Digital developments and employment: Understanding trends in Africa

There is broad consensus that job creation and productive employment are key to building a vibrant, inclusive economy. The digital era holds potential to expand employment opportunities, especially in Africa, where unemployment is high and economic activity has significant growth potential. However, the rise of digital technologies also raises concerns about machines replacing human jobs, making the effects of digital developments on employment a critical issue for study.

Is there a link between government spending, good governance, and economic growth? Evidence from developing countries

This paper examines whether government spending and governance have a nonlinear relationship with economic growth. The study determines the threshold effect of the institutional quality on the relationship between public expenditure and economic performance for developing countries using the Dynamic Panel Threshold Kink Model (DPTKM) (Seo et al., 2019) from 1996 to 2020. This approach differs from other studies by analyzing the interplay of good governance under different regimes considering the double endogeneity of the threshold variables and the regressors.

The effect of human capital on the trade-growth nexus: A dynamic panel threshold analysis

This paper analyzes the nonlinear effect of trade openness on economic growth over a sample of developed and developing countries during the period 1980–2020. Using a Dynamic Panel Threshold Model advanced by Seo and Shin (2016), and Seo et al., (2019), the results prove the existence of a human capital's threshold level above it openness to trade has a positive effect on economic growth. More precisely, trade can enhance economic performance if the human capital is high, otherwise, the effect is negative.

Trade negotiation dialogue and capacity building: applying the PXA Framework, World Trade Organization

The increasing trend of the inclusion of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment concerns in the negotiation of trade agreements creates a need to strengthen informed dialogue between the public and private sectors. Trade negotiators are often not aware of the specific barriers faced by women in their various economic roles, and as a result, face a challenge in promoting provisions that will successfully address these barriers.

52nd Plenary Session of the African Economic Research Consortium on “Business Environment, Competitiveness and Economic Growth in Africa”

The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) hosted its 52nd Plenary Session on “Business Environment, Competitiveness and Economic Growth in Africa” on the 29th of June 2020. The sessions were held virtually for researchers, academics, policy makers, non-state actors and economists to discuss the link between business environment, competitiveness, and economic growth in African economies.

Agriculture as a Determinant of Zambian Economic Sustainability

For several years, the Zambian economy relied on the mining sector, which has been affected by fluctuations in commodity prices. The new century enhanced the calls for economic diversification, with the agricultural, manufacturing, and services sectors amongst those pronounced. This article focused on the role of agriculture in supporting the economy, particularly, the effect of agriculture on economic growth. The data analyzed was reviewed for the period 1983–2017. The ARDL Bounds Test was applied in order to meet the said objectives.

Growth Impact of Foreign Direct Investment in the COMESA Region: Does Infrastructure Development Matter?

Using country-level panel data, this study investigates the impact of foreign direct investment on the gross domestic product per capita in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa region over the 2000- 2015 period. The estimates are generated using the one-step generalized method of a moments-difference estimator. The study found that foreign direct investment exerted a negative while quality development of infrastructure has a positive impact on economic growth in the region.

Subscribe to Economic Growth