Understanding Sub-Saharan Africa's Extreme Poverty Tragedy

Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research

2020

This study assesses how globalisation modulates the effect of environmental degradation on inclusive human development in 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), using data for the period 2000 to 2012. The empirical results are based on the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The following main findings are established. First, a trade openness (imports + exports) threshold of between 80-120% of GDP is the maximum level required for trade openness to effectively modulate CO 2 emissions (metric tonnes per capita) and induce a positive effect on inclusive human development. Second, a minimum threshold required for trade openness to modulate CO 2 intensity (kg per kg of oil-equivalent energy use) and induce a positive effect on inclusive human development is 200% of GDP. Third, there is a net positive effect on inclusive human development from the relevance of trade openness in modulating the effect of CO 2 emissions per capita on inclusive human development and a negative net effect on inclusive human development from the importance of trade openness in moderating the effect of CO 2 intensity on inclusive human development. JEL Classification: C52; O38; O40; O55; P37

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of globalization in modulating the effect of environmental degradation on inclusive human development

Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research

2020

“…First, the recent economic development in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) has been characterized by exclusive growth (Asongu & Kodila‐Tedika, ; Kuada, ). This is essentially because since the mid‐1990s, the number of people living in extreme poverty in the subregion has been consistently rising (Asongu & le Roux, ; Tchamyou, ). This is surprising, in spite of more than two decades of growth resurgence in the subregion (Tchamyou, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basic formal education quality, information technology, and inclusive human development in sub‐Saharan Africa

Sustainable Development

2018

149

This study assesses the role played by basic formal education on the impact of information technology on inclusive human development in sub-Saharan African countries during the period 2000-2012. The study aims to answer one critical question: What is the relevance of basic formal education in the effect of mobile phone penetration on inclusive human development in sub-Saharan Africa when initial levels of inclusive human development are taken into account? The empirical evidence is based on instrumental quantile regressions. The findings of this study show that poor primary education dampens the positive effect of mobile phone penetration on inclusive human development. This finding should be understood from the perspective that the education quality indicator represents a policy syndrome because of the way it is computed, notably, the ratio of pupils to teachers. Hence, an increasing ratio indicates decreasing quality of education. It follows that decreasing quality of education dampens the positive effect of mobile phone on inclusive development. This tendency is consistent throughout the conditional distribution of inclusive sustainable human development. Policy implications are discussed.

“…On the policy front, according to a recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), SSA is unlikely to achieve most SDGs unless the concern of income inequality is addressed (UNDP, 2017). The recommendation of the United Nations is supported by the attendant empirical literature (Asongu & Kodila-Tedika, 2017;McGeown, 2017;Asongu & le Roux, 2019;Tchamyou, 2019aTchamyou, , 2019b which is consistent on the importance of substantially curtailing inequality in order to put the sub-region on track to the achievement of SDGs. For instance, Bicaba, Brixiova and Ncube (2017) have established that countries in the sub-region are unlikely to reduce extreme poverty to the target of below 3% unless inequality is critically dealt with: "This paper examines its feasibility for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the world's poorest but growing region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Thresholds of income inequality that mitigate the role of gender inclusive education in promoting gender economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa

2020

SRJ

Self Cite

Purpose This study aims to provide the thresholds of inequality that should not be exceeded if gender inclusive education is to enhance gender inclusive formal economic participation in sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach The empirical evidence is based on the generalised method of moments and data from 42 countries during the period 2004-2014. Findings The following findings are established. First, inclusive tertiary education unconditionally promotes gender economic inclusion, while the interaction between tertiary education and inequality is unfavourable to gender economic inclusion. Second, a Gini coefficient that nullifies the positive incidence of inclusive tertiary education on female labour force participation is 0.562. Second, the Gini coefficient and Palma ratio that crowd-out the negative unconditional effects of inclusive tertiary education on female unemployment are 0.547 and 6.118, respectively. Third, a 0.578 Gini coefficient, a 0.680 Atkinson index and a 6.557 Palma ratio are critical masses that wipe out the positive unconditional effects of inclusive tertiary education on female employment. The findings associated with lower levels of education are not significant. Practical implications As the main policy implication, income inequality should not be tolerated above the established thresholds for gender inclusive education to promote gender inclusive formal economic participation. Other implications are discussed in the light of sustainable development goals. Originality/value This study complements the existing literature by providing inequality thresholds that should not be exceeded for gender inclusive education to promote the involvement of women in the formal economic sector.