Religiosity, Institutions and Corruption in Africa

The simultaneous increase in religiosity and corruption in Africa is a paradox that is being investigated. Therefore, using the Sub-Saharan Africa Religion Survey and transparency international report datasets, this study employed multiple regressions analysis to investigate the impact of religiosity and other institutions on corruption in Africa. The study shows that all institutions have significant impact on the level of corruption in Africa.   But, Religiosity increases the level of corruption when there are no strong political and economic institutions in place. Also, in democratic environment where political and economic institutions are weak religion serves as impetus to corruption. Thus, to reduce corruption, the laws of the religions need to be incorporated in the constitutions of the countries and strictly enforced. Equally, in good institutional environment, religiosity reduces the level of corruption. Meaning, the level of corruption is concurrently high with the level religiosity in Africa due to weak institutions. We therefore, recommend that the laws of the religions should be incorporated in the mainstream of the conventional legal system in Africa. Otherwise, the wide spread of religion in the continent will continue to increase the level of corruption which in turn hinders socio-economic development in the continent. Keywords: Africa, Institutions, Religion, corruption JEL codes: O55, D02, Z12 D7

IMPACT OF SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES ON HOUSEHOLD ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN NASARAWA STATE

The paper examined the impact of social protection programmes on household access to healthcare services in Nasarawa State. Primary data was used for the study, which was collected with the aid of survey instrument (questionnaire). A sample of 439 treatment group and same number of sample of the control group were considered in the research. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design and Difference-in-Difference regression model was employed for the data analysis. Results of analysis of the three outcome variables were statistically significant for all components of the social protection programmes (Conditional Cash Transfer, Health Insurance, and N-Power), implying that social protection programmes significantly increased household access to healthcare services in Nasarawa State. The study concluded that social protection programmes are veritable instruments of addressing health inequalities and affordability of healthcare services, and if properly harnessed will lead to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal three in Nasarawa State. The paper based on the findings recommended that more awareness is required on social protection programmes operations in the Nasarawa State, and there is need for institutionalization of social protection policy in Nasarawa State for effective service delivery

Carbon (CO2) emission and food availability convergence in the Niger Basin region: Insight from a club clustering algorithm

The study employed the Phillips and Sul log-t convergence test to analyse the degree of convergence for the Niger Basin region (NBR) countries in terms of per capita carbon emission and food availability. We found that, between the years 1986 and 2020, the Niger Basin region produced 13.5% less food per person than it did during the base period of 2004 to 2006. This study also found a strong convergence among the NBR countries on per capita food production. The result for the region’s convergence of per capita carbon emission was rejected. The non-convergence of the entire sample, and the presence of the different subgroup convergence clubs for per capita CO2 emission for the region, implies that individual factors characterise the NBR countries in terms of per capita CO2 emissions, which in turn determine an idiosyncratic course of their transition path for per capita CO2 emission policies. Considering that the transboundary river basin links nine countries, this study recommends that the NBR countries formulate and implement CO2 emission policies based on cluband country-specific policies to achieve convergence in relation to a concerted food security threat facing the region

Carbon (CO2) emission and food availability convergence in the Niger Basin region: Insight from a club clustering algorithm

The study employed the Phillips and Sul log-t convergence test to analyse the degree of convergence for the Niger Basin region (NBR) countries in terms of per capita carbon emission and food availability. We found that, between the years 1986 and 2020, the Niger Basin region produced 13.5% less food per person than it did during the base period of 2004 to 2006. This study also found a strong convergence among the NBR countries on per capita food production. The result for the region’s convergence of per capita carbon emission was rejected. The non-convergence of the entire sample, and the presence of the different subgroup convergence clubs for per capita CO2 emission for the region, implies that individual factors characterise the NBR countries in terms of per capita CO2 emissions, which in turn determine an idiosyncratic course of their transition path for per capita CO2 emission policies. Considering that the transboundary river basin links nine countries, this study recommends that the NBR countries formulate and implement CO2 emission policies based on cluband country-specific policies to achieve convergence in relation to a concerted food security threat facing the region