Consumption and income over the lifecycle in Nigeria

This paper utilises National Transfer Accounts framework to estimate age profiles of consumption and income over the lifecycle in order to determine actual period of dependency in Nigeria. The paper quantifies inter-age monetary flows of consumption and labour income and subsequent economic lifecycle deficit and the implications this will have for social policy and human capital development. The results indicate that given the profiles of consumption and income over the lifecycle in Nigeria, child dependency is for the first 33 years of life while old-age dependency occurs from 63 years upwards. The period of lifecycle surplus span 30 years from 33-63 years. The structure of consumption and income flows reveals that Nigeria has a lifecycle deficit of N3.5 trillion in 2004. Since the population is highly skewed towards children, inter-generational flows are heavily skewed downwards. The deficits must then be covered through age reallocations of transfers and asset income.  Résumé: Cet article utilise la méthodologie des comptes de transferts pour estimer le profil de consommation et de revenu par âge à travers le cycle de vie afin de déterminer la période réelle de la dépendance au Nigéria. Le papier mesure les flux monétaires de consommation, de revenu du travail entre les âges et le déficit du cycle de vie dérivé et analyse les implications que ceci aura pour le développement de la politique sociale et de capital humain. Les résultats indiquent que compte tenu des profils de la consommation et du revenu au cours du cycle de vie au Nigéria, la dépendance des enfants a lieu pendant les 33 premières années de la vie tandis que la dépendance des personnes âgées se produit au-delà de 63 ans. La période de surplus de cycle de vie se situe entre 30 ans de 33-63 ans. La structure des flux de consommation et de revenu indique que le Nigéria a un déficit de cycle de vie de N3.5 trillion en 2004. Compte tenu du fait que la population est à forte asymétrie vers des enfants, les flux inter générationnels sont fortement biaisés. Les déficits doivent alors être couverts par des redistributions entre les âge des transferts et du revenu de capitaux.Mots-clés: Comptes de transfert nationaux (NTA), cycle de vie économique, transfert entre générations, profil d'âge de revenu, profil d'âge de consommatio

Demographic transition, demographic dividend and economic growth in Nigeria

Abstract Changes in age structure that results from demographic transition have economic consequences. This paper identifies the period of potential window of opportunity or demographic dividends created by Nigeria’s demographic transition. This is done by simulating the period of the demographic window of opportunity in Nigeria. In a simulation covering 1950 – 2050 our results reveal that Nigeria entered the window of opportunity in 2003 and will last beyond year 2050. The highest benefit will accrue in years 2032 and 2033 when the dividend can account for more than 10% of the growth of GDP per capita even if the current performance scenario continues to exist. However, the paper notes that the demographic dividend is not automatically realized and Nigeria needs to embark on strategies that will develop her human capital and position her towards not only capturing the first dividend but the second dividend as well.Keywords: demographic transition; demographic dividends;national transfer accounts (NTA); economic lifecycle;economic support ratioRésumé Les changements dans la structure d'âge qui provient de la transition démographique ont des conséquences économiques. Ce papier identifie la période de fenêtre potentielle d'opportunité ou de dividendes démographiques créés par la transition démographique du Nigeria. C'est fait en simulant la période de la fenêtre démographique d'opportunité au Nigeria. Dans une simulation couvrant 1950 – 2050. Nos résultats révèlent que le Nigeria est entré dans la fenêtre d'opportunité en 2003 et durera au-delà de l'année 2050. Le plus haut avantage s'accumulera au cours des années 2032 et 2033 où le dividende peut représenter plus de 10 % de la croissance de PIB par habitant même si le scénario de performance actuel continue à exister. Pourtant, le papier note que le dividende démographique n'est pas automatiquement réalisé et le Nigeria doit entreprendre des stratégies qui développeront sa capitale humaine et la placeront vers le fait de non capturer seulement le premier dividende, mais le deuxième dividende aussi.Mots clé: la transition démographique, les dividendes démographiques, les comptes de transfert nationaux (NTA), life cyclé économique, le rapport de soutien économiqu

Donors and Sustainability in the Provision of Financial Services in Nigeria

summary The article discusses some of the issues surrounding sustainability in the provision of financial services by the Diocesan Development Services (DDS) in Nigeria. The article describes the history and growth of DDS within the turbulent social, economic and political conditions in Nigeria, and examines (i) to what extent financial sustainability is an achievable goal for DDS, and (ii) whether donors should play a pro?active role in influencing local decisions. The article analyses the problems faced by DDS when a major donor tried to push it to attain rapidly financial sustainability

Investigating determinants of out-of-pocket spending and strategies for coping with payments for healthcare in southeast Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Out-of-pocket spending (OOPS) is the major payment strategy for healthcare in Nigeria. Hence, the paper assessed the determinants socio-economic status (SES) of OOPS and strategies for coping with payments for healthcare in urban, semi-urban and rural areas of southeast Nigeria. This paper provides information that would be required to improve financial accessibility and equity in financing within the public health care system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study areas were three rural and three urban areas from Ebonyi and Enugu states in South-east Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey using interviewer-administered questionnaires to randomly selected householders was the study tool. A socio-economic status (SES) index that was developed using principal components analysis was used to examine levels of inequity in OOPS and regression analysis was used to examine the determinants of use of OOPS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All the SES groups equally sought healthcare when they needed to. However, the poorest households were most likely to use low level and informal providers such as traditional healers, whilst the least poor households were more likely to use the services of higher level and formal providers such as health centres and hospitals. The better-off SES more than worse-off SES groups used OOPS to pay for healthcare. The use of own money was the commonest payment-coping mechanism in the three communities. The sales of movable household assets or land were not commonly used as payment-coping mechanisms. Decreasing SES was associated with increased sale of household assets to cope with payment for healthcare in one of the communities. Fee exemptions and subsidies were almost non-existent as coping mechanisms in this study</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is the need to reduce OOPS and channel and improve equity in healthcare financing by designing and implementing payment strategies that will assure financial risk protection of the poor such pre-payment mechanisms with government paying for the poor.</p