Exploring the Nexus between Migrant Remittances and Economic Growth: A Study of Senegal

In this study we assess the relationship between migrant remittances and economic growth in Senegal The analysis utilized on an econometric approach using the ARDL bound testing method as an estimation technique The estimation period is from 1980 to 2018 Overall the estimates show a negative relationship between remittances and economic growth and an insignificant effect in the long run while the nexus between economic growth and investment is positive in the long term This provides the prospect of a study on the analysis of the impact on the economic growth of reallocation of remittances from consumption needs to savings-investment purpose

Knowledge, beliefs and attitude towards malaria control and prevention among students in tertiary institutions in the Gambia

BACKGROUNDEven though Malaria caused by five parasite species, two of which – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax is preventable, curable and treatable, it continues to pose a significant health threat to many communities around the world. Particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, The Gambia is one of the African countries that has seen a significant reduction in malaria cases. Malaria cases in The Gambia had decreased gradually from 346.9 per 100,000 persons in 2004 to 66 per 100,000 people in 2018. The fight against malaria is great progress for the future. AIMThis study aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of students attending tertiary institutions in The Gambia in regard to Malaria prevention and control. METHODOLOGYFrom May to June 2021, a standardized pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from 431 students in four public institutions in The Gambia. The University of The Gambia (UTG) Brikama Campus, The Gambia College-Brikama Campus, Management Development Institution (MDI) and The Gambia Technical Training Institution (GTTI. Respondents were chosen using a random sampling approach of students who were found on campuses and consented to participate. Sample size was determined using the formula described by Thrusfield (2007) based on a 95% confidence interval. It was first entered into excel and then exported to SPSS version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA) for data analyses. RESULTThe aetiology, symptoms and therapy of malaria were all well-understood by the respondents. Age (P-value=0.005) and program of study (P-value=0.014) were highly significant with students’ knowledge on the mode of transmission of malaria as for students belief of the disease. Institution of learning Odd ratio (1.385, P value=0.003) was the only factor which affected students perception of malaria. Gender (Odd ratio=2.491, P-value=0.005) and the institution of learning (Odd ratio=1.506, P-value=0.003) were factors which had a high statistical significance with students practice of sleep under an ITNs. CONCLUSIONThis study reported a high level of knowledge, poor attitude and practice towards malaria control interventions among students attending tertiary institutions in The Gambia. Students from the UTG and GTTI showed a better positive knowledge than those from the other participants. Their curriculum studies and social activities (individual students’ unions) exposed them to a higher level of awareness. RECOMMENDATIONSHealth-related programs on malaria prevention and control should be organized to raise awareness in through television and radio or any other media. Health education should be a compulsory topic or module in institutions

The Wade Formula and the oil price fluctuation: An Optimal Control Theory approach

By considering the Wade Formula, we propose a model to study the evolution of the oil price per barrel. Our model shows that the policy of diversification of the energy is to be supported. This model is proposed to see how it is possible to control parameters so that the oil price should decrease

Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth in WAEMU: A Multiscale Heterogeneity Panel Causality Approach

This paper examines the causal relationship between Financial Inclusion and economic growth in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) from 2006 to 2015. We combined the heterogeneity panel causality test proposed by Dimitrescu and Hurlin (2012) with the Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (MODWT) to analyze the bi-directional causality at different time scales. We used two Financial Inclusion indicators: the overall rate of demographic penetration of financial services and the overall rate of use of financial services. Our results show that at scale 1 (2-4 years), there is no causality between economic growth and Financial Inclusion indicators. However, at scale 2 (4-8 years), we found a bi-directional causality between economic growth and Financial Inclusion. Policymakers should, therefore, while promoting Financial Inclusion reforms that are beneficial to Financial Inclusion, make more efficient the levers favoring macroeconomic growth, which also seems to be a decisive factor of Financial Inclusion

Oil Prices and African Stock Markets Co-movement: A Time and Frequency Analysis

This paper explores the co-movement between OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil prices and six largest African stock markets in term of capital. The Wavelet Coherence method is used to analyze the evolution of this relationship in both time and frequency. Our results show that the co-movement between the African financial markets and oil prices is relatively low except for the emerging stock markets such as South Africa and Egypt and is related for the majority of stock markets in large time scales during the period of the 2007 financial crisis and after. At small time scales, African stock markets could be a way of diversification benefits for oil market active investors

Beginning an African Stock Markets Integration? A Wavelet Analysis

This paper studies the integration of the most six largest African stock markets in term of capital using theWavelet Multiple Correlation (WMC) and theWavelet Multiple Cross-Correlation (WMCC) proposed by Fernandez-Macho (2012). These methods are used to study simultaneously the correlation between several variables at different time scales. They have some advantages over previous models. Results show that the integration between the six stock markets returns remains low but tends to increase gradually in time and is greater in the long run. A diversified investment opportunity is possible in these stock markets at all scale

Oil Prices and African Stock Markets Co-movement: A Time and Frequency Analysis

This paper explores the co-movement between OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil prices and six largest African stock markets in term of capital. The Wavelet Coherence method is used to analyze the evolution of this relationship in both time and frequency. Our results show that the co-movement between the African financial markets and oil prices is relatively low except for the emerging stock markets such as South Africa and Egypt and is related for the majority of stock markets in large time scales during the period of the 2007 financial crisis and after. At small time scales, African stock markets could be a way of diversification benefits for oil market active investors

Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth in WAEMU: A Multiscale Heterogeneity Panel Causality Approach

This paper examines the causal relationship between Financial Inclusion and economic growth in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) from 2006 to 2015. We combined the heterogeneity panel causality test proposed by Dimitrescu and Hurlin (2012) with the Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (MODWT) to analyze the bi-directional causality at different time scales. We used two Financial Inclusion indicators: the overall rate of demographic penetration of financial services and the overall rate of use of financial services. Our results show that at scale 1 (2-4 years), there is no causality between economic growth and Financial Inclusion indicators. However, at scale 2 (4-8 years), we found a bi-directional causality between economic growth and Financial Inclusion. Policymakers should, therefore, while promoting Financial Inclusion reforms that are beneficial to Financial Inclusion, make more efficient the levers favoring macroeconomic growth, which also seems to be a decisive factor of Financial Inclusion