Does economic freedom foster education in Sub‐Saharan Africa?

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of economic freedom on education in Sub‐Saharan Africa. We used a panel of 41 countries covering the period 2000–2019 and the two‐stage least squares (IV‐2SLS) estimates. We find that economic freedom fosters secondary education. Furthermore, we find that the five components of economic freedom have varying effects on education. Indeed, size of government increases secondary education. Legal system increases secondary and tertiary education, while freedom to trade fosters primary and secondary education. In contrast, sound money has a negative impact on primary and tertiary education. These results are robust when we consider education by gender.