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The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of military expenditure on the relationship between terrorism and investment in twenty-four African countries for the period 2001 to 2018. The study utilizes fixed effects regression with Driscoll and Kraay standard error and cushions the effect of simultaneity and reverse causality using the lags of the regressors as instruments. The empirical results reveal the negative effect of terrorism on both domestic investment and foreign direct investment (FDI). The study further reveals a negative net effect of military expenditure on the relationship between terrorism and investment. Furthermore, it was discovered that a threshold of 2% to 5% of military expenditure in GDP is required for military expenditure to offset the negative effect of terrorism on FDI. The study recommends that counter-terrorism initiatives be tailored more towards inclusive growth policies, increasing access to education, and improving the quality of governance.

This paper examines the economic and political determinants of the observed variations in the quality of budgetary institutions in 31 selected African countries from 2005 to 2017. The quality of budgetary institutions is measured using the World Bank’s Country Policy and Institution Assessment score. The empirical analysis utilises Ordinary Least Squares, two-stage least squares, two-step generalized method of moment, and the random effects probit and mixed effects models. The most significant and robust determinants of budgetary institution quality were found to be the level of external debt, foreign aid, the extent of control of corruption, and the level of voice and accountability. The results also reveal that foreign aid, control of corruption, and voice/accountability increase the probability of an improved quality of budgetary institutions. These findings resonate with the broader discussion on the role of political will and the need for the preferences of domestic actors to be aligned in order to deliver institutional reform in Africa.

This study investigates the determinants of fiscal effort in sub-Saharan African (SSA) within the framework of fiscal reaction functions. Whereas previous studies focusing on SSA have mainly considered the economic non-debt determinants this study accounts for the role of conflict given its persistence in many SSA countries. It employs a variety of panel econometric methods that are applicable in tackling the problem of endogeneity. Specifically the study employs the instrumental variables fixed effects, the two-step generalised method of moments (GMM) and the traditional two-stage least squares techniques. Mainly the evidence shows that although SSA governments have made fiscal adjustments in response to the escalating levels of debt, conflict impacts negatively on this response in SSA. Furthermore, the results affirm the presence of fiscal fatigue in SSA’s fiscal reaction function. Recommendations based on these findings are discussed.