Saving-Economic Growth Nexus In Nigeria, 1970-2007: Granger Causality And Co-Integration Analyses

The controversy surrounding the direction of causality between saving and economic growth motivated this study. The author employed the Granger-causality and co-integration techniques to analyze the relationship between saving and economic growth in Nigeria during the period 1970-2007. The Johansen co-integration test indicates that the variables (economic growth and saving) are co-integrated, and that a long-run equilibrium exists between them. In addition, the granger causality test reveals that causality runs from economic growth to saving, implying that economic growth precedes and granger causes saving. Thus, we reject the Solow’s hypothesis that saving precedes economic growth, and accept the Keynesian theory that t is economic growth that leads to higher saving. The author recommends that government and policy makers should employ policies that would accelerate economic growth so as to increase saving.economic growth, saving, granger causality, co-integration.

Does Stock Market Development Raise Economic Growth? Evidence from Nigeria

This paper investigates whether stock market development raises economic growth in Nigeria, by employing the error correction approach. The econometric results indicate that stock market development (market capitalization-GDP ratio) increases economic growth. The recommendations therein include - removal of impediments to stock market development which include tax, legal, and regulatory barriers; development of the nation's infrastructure to create an enabling environment for where business can strive; employment of policies that will increase the productivity and efficiency of firms as well encourage them to access capital on the stock market; enhancement of the capacity of the Nigeria Security and Exchange Commission to facilitate the growth of the stock market, restore the confidence of stock market participants and safeguard the interest of shareholders by checking sharp practices of market operators (particularly speculators).Market, efficiency, productivity, stock market, market operators

Sustainably intensifying at right densities in northern Ghana: Small ruminant corralling density, plant density, and nitrogen rate effect on maize

United States Agency for International Developmen

A Proposed Model for M-Banking Adoption

The evolution of powerful and versatile information systems have altered the way business transactions are made. Millions of dollars are spent by organizations in developing and maintaining these technologies in quest of gaining competitive edge. This cherished goal can only be realized if the target market adopt and use these technologies. Technologies such as Automated Teller Machine (ATM), internet banking, and mobile banking have now become a prerequisite in the banking business. This study extends the applicability of TAM and TPB constructs to investigate the significant factors influencing users' adoption of m-banking services in Universiti Utara Malaysia. The research model was empirically tested through a questionnaire of 125 respondents. Findings showed that perceived usefulness and social influence have significant impact on mobile banking adoption. In contrast with previous studies, perceived ease of use, perceived credibility, image, perceived financial cost, and computer/internet experience were not significant in explaining mobile banking adoption. In summary, perceived usefulness contributed the most in explaining mobile banking adoption. The research findings have both practical and theoretical implications. Practically, the study is hoped to serve as a useful insight for banks and system developers in developing and deploying mobile banking systems that are in consonance with the needs of the target customers. Theoretically, the study extends to the body of literature in mobile banking adoption

Book Review: Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa: The Tragedy of Endowment

Reviews the book Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa: The Tragedy of Endowment, by Abiodun Alao. Published by University of Rochester Press, 2007

Naftno bogatstvo, korupcija i mnogostruka lica/mnogostruke faze internog kolonijalizma u drami Hard Ground Ahmeda Yerimaea

This paper explores Ahmed Yerima’s play Hard Ground (2011) to show how Yerima employs dramatic elements to interrogate manifestations of corruption and internal colonialism engendered by violent struggles for oil wealth in the Niger Delta region. Some scholars from the Niger Delta region have alleged that Yerima’s Hard Ground falls short of being a “realistic” portrayal of the oil crisis in the Niger Delta. Their claim suggests that the play is an exercise in the service of the establishment. However, this study contends that Yerima’s representations of corruption and internal colonialism in the crisis are meant neither to underestimate the role of the establishment nor to overlook the suffering of the people in the region. The playwright’s portrayals of corruption and various forms of internal colonialism generating the oil crisis are informed by postcolonial, multiple, contradictory, and complementary realities/truths, which often reveal the complexities of socio-economic and political crises in the postcolonial African state. The study reveals that leadership egoism and failure are among the key factors that aggravate violent crises which recur in the region. In its conclusion, the paper asserts that the multiple insights that Yerima’s Hard Ground offers on the oil crisis call for collective efforts within the Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria as whole at finding lasting solutions to the region’s crises orchestrated by the violent struggle for oil wealth.Ovaj se rad bavi analizom predstave Hard Ground / Tvrda zemlja (2011) Ahmeda Yerimaea da bi pokazao kako se autor koristi dramskim elementima u ispitivanju manifestacija korupcije i unutarnjeg kolonijalizma potaknutih nasilnom borbom za naftnim bogatstvom u regiji delte Nigera. Neki znanstvenici iz regije tvrde da Yerimaeova Tvrda zemlja nije „realističan“ prikaz naftne krize u delti rijeke Niger i da je to samo predstava u službi establišmenta. Međutim, ovo istraživanje pokazuje da Yerimaevo predstavljanje korupcije i unutarnjeg kolonijalizma u krizi nema svrhu ni podcijeniti ulogu vladajućih elita ni zanemariti patnje ljudi u regiji. Dramski prikazi korupcije i različitih oblika unutarnjeg kolonijalizma, koji generiraju naftnu krizu, prikazuju postkolonijalne, višestruke, oprečne i komplementarne stvarnosti/istine, koje otkrivaju složenost društveno-ekonomske i političke krize u postkolonijalnoj afričkoj državi. Studija otkriva da su egoizam i neuspjeh upravljačkih struktura među ključnim faktorima koji pogoršavaju strahovite krize koje se javljaju u regiji. U zaključku, rad tvrdi da različiti pogledi o naftnoj krizi koje donosi Tvrda zemlja pozivaju na zajedničke napore posebno unutar regije delte Nigera, ali i Nigerije u cjelini, kako bi se pronašla trajna rješenja za krizu orkestriranu silovitom borbom za naftnim bogatstvom

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DETERMINANTS OF PUBLIC SECTOR BUDGET DEFICITS: THE CASE OF NIGERIA

The main focus of the paper is to analyze the effects of both economic and political variables on public sector budget deficits. The econometric results show that the main determinants of budget deficits include international capital inflow, international interest rate, debt service costs, public expenditure, political instability and economic growth. The author makes the following recommendations. Firstly, international capital should be used to finance projects that contribute meaningfully to the economy. Secondly, since international interest rate is outside the control of Nigeria’s government and monetary authorities, emphasis on foreign loans should be reduced. Thirdly, government should avoid external debt where necessary. Fourthly, government should increase her spending on infrastructural development. Furthermore, government should strengthen the political institutions including the judiciary, as well as create a level playing ground for all its citizens, so as to promote political stability. Moreover, government should give more incentives and subsidies such as low corporate profit tax, improvement in power and energy generation, etc., in order to encourage producers as well as promote economic growth. Lastly, government should sustain the on-going war against corruption so that public funds are not misappropriated or embezzled by government officials

Patriarchy, Women’s Triple Roles and Development in Southwest Nigeria

The study was conducted to establish the root of the various manifestations in the labour process that tend to value men and what they do than women and what they do. This was done against the background knowledge that fingered patriarchy as a contributory factor. The paper therefore examined what happens at the household level between the respondents and their husbands in terms of decision-making processes. One hundred and ninety-five (195) out of 225 sampled propertied women who owned landed and movable properties were selected for the study. It is strongly believed that whatsoever happens at the household level between husband and wife (wives) has a way of replicating itself in the other sphere of the society including the process of production. In its concluding remarks the paper submitted that patriarchy was not only a fundamental cause of the slant relationship between men and women, it has become highly institutionalized with the support of women folks to maintain the status quo over the years. The imbalance relationship between men and women in the social relations of production and, indeed, the whole super-structure of the society could however be changed gradually through the use of the social reproductive role of wome

The effects of corruption and political instability on saving: The case economic community of West African States

Despite the abundant research on savings and its determinants, little has been done to examine the effects of corruption and political instability on savings, particularly in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), one of the most corrupt and politically unstable regions in the world. The objectives of this study include investigating the effects of corruption and political instability on savings, in addition to examining whether the effects of corruption and political instability on savings depend on income levels in the ECOWAS from 1996 to 2012. Using the Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) and the Two Stage Least Squares (TSLS) instrumental variables techniques that take into account random effects, the results indicate that lesser corruption and higher political stability have a significant and positive effect on savings, and the effects of corruption and political instability on savings depend on income levels. These suggest that at high income levels, the negative impact of corruption and political instability on savings is lower, but at low income levels, the negative impact of corruption and political instability on savings is higher in the ECOWAS. In addition, income level, income growth, real interest rate and inflation rate have positive and significant effects on savings. However, the percentage share of agriculture in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has a negative effect on savings. The study recommends policies to reduce corruption and political instability to raise savings. In addition, raising incomes would reduce the adverse effects of corruption and political instability on savings and also raise savings in the ECOWA