Nexus of public spending and gross domestic products (GDP) growth in the agricultural sector: Evidence from Nigerian and Malaysian agricultural sector (1976–2016)

Abstract

Nigeria and Malaysia are the same level in terms of economic growth in the 1960s; Malaysia has now progress in economic growth than Nigeria. The study examines public spending in Malaysia and Nigeria and specify lessons from Malaysian growth indices for Nigeria. Secondary data used was obtained from FAOSTAT and International data center from 1976 to 2016. Simple version of endogenous growth theory model was used. Random effects model results indicated that Nigeria public-expenditure (PUEXP) and intervention variables were significant but negative, whereas enterprise-development, drivers of development (DRIVERS), and Dummy for modest PUEXP access (D 1 t) were significant but positive. Similarly, three variables were significant and positive at difference rank of significance, also Dummies D 1 t and D 2 t (macroeconomic stability) were significant in Malaysia. PUEXP and gross domestic product growth has an inverse relationship in Nigeria and direct relationship in Malaysia. Malaysia over the four decades recorded modest PUEXP and witnessed macroeconomic stability among other growth indices; these are the growth indices Nigeria must learn from Malaysia.