77 results on '"Asongu, Simplice A."'
Search Results
2. Microfinance institutions and female entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: avoidable female unemployment thresholds
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Enhancing ICT for female economic participation in sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Female unemployment and the procedure that a woman has to go through to start a business: microfinance policy thresholds
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Thresholds of income inequality that mitigate the role of gender inclusive education in promoting gender economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Income Levels, Governance and Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A. and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Inclusive education for inclusive economic participation: the financial access channel
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Nnanna, Joseph, and Acha-Anyi, Paul
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Inequality and the economic participation of women in sub-Saharan Africa : An empirical investigation
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
9. Globalisation and Female Economic Participation in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Efobi, Uchenna R., Tanankem, Belmondo V., and Osabuohien, Evans S.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. Thresholds of External Flows for Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Uduji, Joseph I., and Okolo-Obasi, Elda N.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. The role of inclusive development and military expenditure in modulating the effect of terrorism on governance
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Nwachukwu, Jacinta, and le Roux, Sara
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Doing business and inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. The effects of gender political inclusion and democracy on environmental performance: Evidence from the method of moments by quantile regression.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Ndour, Cheikh T., and Ngoungou, Judith C. M.
- Subjects
- *
QUANTILE regression , *MOMENTS method (Statistics) , *GENDER inequality , *ENVIRONMENTAL policy , *GENDER , *DEMOCRACY - Abstract
Motivated by the difficulty of ensuring gender equality and the chaotic state of democracy, we analyze the effects of gender political inclusion and democracy on environmental policy performance. The study uses a panel of 45 African countries over the period 2012–2018 and employs the method of moments by quantile regression. The results show that gender political inclusion and democracy positively affect environmental performance in all quantiles. These positive effects tend to be stronger at higher quantiles. The magnitude is larger for gender political inclusion. When performance is decomposed into the sub‐indices of environmental health and ecosystem vitality, positive effects of gender political inclusion and democracy are observed in all quantiles. The effects are larger for the gender dimension than for the democracy dimension, regardless of the sub‐index used. Related Articles: Bingham, Natasha. 2016. "Fighting for Our Cause: The Impact of Women's NGOs on Gender Policy Adoption in Four Former Soviet Republics." Politics & Policy 44(2): 294–318. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12155. Hankivsky, Olena. 2013. "Gender Mainstreaming: A Five‐Country Examination." Politics & Policy 41(5): 629–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12037. Nchofoung, Tii, Simplice Asongu, Vanessa Tchamyou, and Ofeh Edoh. 2022. "Gender, Political Inclusion, and Democracy in Africa: Some Empirical Evidence." Politics & Policy 51(1): 137–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12505. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. The Comparative African Economics of Inclusive Development and Military Expenditure in Fighting Terrorism
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Tchamyou, Vanessa, Asongu, Ndemaze, and Tchamyou, Nina
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. The Comparative Inclusive Human Development of Globalisation in Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A. and Nwachukwu, Jacinta C.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. Enhancing ICT for female economic participation in sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,Technology ,O55 ,ICT ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study investigates how enhancing information and communication technology (ICT) affects female economic participation in sub-Saharan African nations. Three female economic participation indicators are used, namely female labor force participation, female unemployment and female employment rates. The engaged ICT variables are: fixed broadband subscriptions, mobile phone penetration and internet penetration. The Generalized Method of Moments is used for the empirical analysis. The following main findings are established: First, there is a (i) negative net effect in the relevance of fixed broadband subscriptions in female labour force participation and female unemployment and; (ii) positive net effects from the importance of fixed broadband subscriptions on the female employment rate. Secondly, an extended analysis is used to establish thresholds at which the undesirable net negative effect on female labour force participation can be avoided. From the corresponding findings, a fixed broadband subscription rate of 9.187 per 100 people is necessary to completely dampen the established net negative effect. Hence, the established threshold is the critical mass necessary for the enhancement of fixed broadband subscriptions to induce an overall positive net effect on the female labour force participation rate.
- Published
- 2022
17. Linear and non-linear effects of infrastructures on inclusive human development in Africa
- Author
-
Nchofoung, Tii Njivukuh, Asongu, Simplice, Njamen Kengdo, Arsène Aurelien, and Achuo, Elvis D.
- Subjects
N77 ,Infrastructure ,Inclusive development ,N67 ,O55 ,I00 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,C23 - Abstract
The objectives of this paper are to verify the linear and the non-linear effects of infrastructural development on inclusive human development in Africa. The results of the system GMM estimations show a positive effect of infrastructural development on inclusive development across all the infrastructural development indexes employed, except the ICT infrastructural composite index which presents an insignificant negative effect. Besides, a non-linear effect of infrastructures on inclusive development was established across all the infrastructure indicators except for the ICT indicator. Negative thresholds for complementary policies are established for the African Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI) and the transport index while positive thresholds are apparent for the electricity index and the water and sanitation infrastructure index (WSS). Accordingly, in order to sustain the positive incidence of the AIDI and transport index on human development, complementary policies should be engaged to avoid an overall negative effect on human development when the indexes are respectively, 31.12% and 25.56%. In the same vein, the electricity index and WSSI should exceed critical levels of respectively 49.79% and 41.92%, to engender an overall positive effect on inclusive human development.
- Published
- 2021
18. The role of inclusive education in governance for inclusive economic participation: Gender evidence from sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study investigates the relevance of inclusive education in moderating the effect of good governance on female economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa. First, inclusive tertiary education modulates: (i) government effectiveness to induce a positive net effect on female labour force participation; (ii) political stability and corruption-control to induce negative net effects on female unemployment; (iii) government effectiveness for a positive net effect on female unemployment and (iv) regulation quality and the rule of law for positive net impacts on female employment. Second, inclusive secondary education moderates: (i) corruption-control for a positive net effect on female labour force participation; (ii) "voice and accountability", government effectiveness and corruption-control for negative net impacts on female unemployment; (iii) the rule of law for a positive net effect on female unemployment; (iv) “voice and accountability†, government effectiveness and corruption-control for positive net effects on female employment. Policy implications are discussed. Inclusive education thresholds for complementary policy policies are also computed and discussed. At these thresholds, inclusive education becomes a necessary but not a sufficient condition to complement governance in order to promote female economic inclusion.
- Published
- 2021
19. Information technology and gender economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Amoah, Joseph Amankwah, Nting, Rexon T., and Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,ICT ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study investigates how ICT affects gender economic inclusion via gender parity education channels. We examine the issue using data from 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2004-2018 divided into: (i) 42 countries for the period 2004-2014; and (ii) 49 countries for the period 2008-2018. Given the overwhelming evidence of negative net effects in the first sample, an extended analysis is used to establish thresholds of ICT penetration that nullify the established net negative effects. We found that in order to enhance female labor force participation, the following ICT thresholds are worthwhile for the secondary education channel: 165 mobile phone penetration per 100 people, 21.471 internet penetration per 100 people and 3.475 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. For the same outcome of inducing a positive effect on female labor force participation, a 31.966 internet penetration per 100 people threshold, is required for the mechanism of tertiary school education. These computed thresholds have economic meaning and policy relevance because they are within the established ICT policy ranges. In the second sample, a mobile phone penetration threshold of 122.20 per 100 people is needed for the tertiary education channel to positively affect female labor force participation.
- Published
- 2020
20. Governance, inequality and inclusive education in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Diop, Samba, and Addis, Amsalu K.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,Inequality ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
The study provides thresholds of income inequality that if exceeded will nullify the positive effect of governance dynamics on gender-inclusive education in 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2004-2014. The Generalised Method of Moments is used as an estimation strategy. The following findings are established. First, the unconditional effects of governance dynamics on inclusive education are consistently positive whereas the corresponding conditional effects from the interaction between inequality and governance dynamics are consistently negative. Second, the levels of inequality that completely crowdout the positive incidence of governance on inclusive "primary and secondary education" are: 0.587 for the rule of law and 0.565 for corruption-control. Third, the levels of inequality that completely dampen the positive incidence of governance on inclusive "secondary education" are: 0.601 for "voice & accountability" and 0.700 for regulation quality. Fourth, for tertiary education, inequality thresholds are respectively 0.568 for political stability and 0.562 for corruption-control. The main policy implication is that for governance dynamics to promote inclusive education in the sampled countries, income inequality levels should be kept within the established thresholds. Other implications are discussed in the light of Sustainable Development Goals.
- Published
- 2020
21. Insurance and inequality in sub-Saharan Africa: Policy thresholds
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Insurance ,Inclusive development ,I28 ,O55 ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,I30 ,I32 ,Sustainable Development - Abstract
In this study, we examine how insurance affects income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa, using data from 42 countries during the period 2004-2014. Three inequality variables are used, namely: the Gini coefficient, the Atkinson index and the Palma ratio. Two insurance premiums are employed, namely: life insurance and non-life insurance. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Life insurance increases the Gini coefficient and increasing life insurance has a net positive effect on the Gini coefficient and the Atkinson index. Non-life insurance reduces the Gini coefficient and increasing non-life insurance has a net positive effect on the Palma ratio. The analysis is extended to establish policy thresholds at which increasing insurance premiums completely dampen the net positive effects. From the extended analysis, 7.500 of life insurance premiums (% of GDP) is the critical mass required for life insurance to negatively affect inequality, while 0.855 of non-life insurance premiums (% of GDP) is the threshold required for non-life insurance to negatively affect inequality. Policy thresholds are provided at which insurance penetration decreases income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Published
- 2020
22. Finance, inequality and inclusive education in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Nnanna, Joseph, and Acha-Anyi, Paul N.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 ,Finance - Abstract
This research complements the extant literature by establishing inequality critical masses that should not be exceeded in order for financial access to promote gender parity inclusive education in Sub-Saharan Africa. The focus is on 42 countries in the sub-region and the data is for the period 2004-2014. The estimation approach is the Generalized Method of Moments. When remittances are involved in the conditioning information set, the Palma ratio should not exceed 6.000 in order for financial access to promote gender parity inclusive "primary and secondary education" and the Atkinson index should not exceed 0.695 in order for financial access to promote inclusive tertiary education. However, when the internet is involved in the conditioning information set, it is established that in order for financial access to promote inclusive primary and secondary education, the: (i) Gini coefficient should not exceed 0.571; (ii) Atkinson index should not be above 0.750 and (iii) Palma ratio should be maintained below 8.000. Irrespective of variable in the conditioning information set, what is apparent is that inequality decreases the incidence of financial access on inclusive education. Hence, a common policy measure is to reduce inequality in order to promote inclusive education using the financial access mechanism. Policy implications are discussed in the light of Sustainable Development Goals.
- Published
- 2020
23. Fighting terrorism in Africa: Complementarity between inclusive development, military expenditure and political stability
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Le Roux, Sara, and Singh, Pritam
- Subjects
Political stability ,Inclusive development ,Military expenditure ,C52 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,Terrorism ,D74 ,F42 ,O16 ,O38 - Abstract
This study examines complementarities between inclusive development, military expenditure and political stability in the fight against terrorism in 53 African countries for the period 1998-2012. Hence the policy variables employed in the study are inclusive development, military expenditure and political stability. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) with forward orthogonal deviations. The paper reports three main findings. Firstly, military expenditure and inclusive development are substitutes and not complements. Secondly, it is more relevant to use political stability as a complement of inclusive development than to use inclusive development as a complement of political stability. Thirdly, it can be broadly established that military expenditure and political stability are complementary. In the light of the sequencing, complementarity and substitutability, when the three policy variables are viewed within the same framework, it is more feasible to first pursue political stability and then complement it with military expenditure and inclusive development.
- Published
- 2020
24. Thresholds of income inequality that mitigate the role of gender inclusive education in promoting gender economic inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,Inequality ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study provides thresholds of inequality that should not be exceeded if gender inclusive education is to enhance gender inclusive formal economic participation in sub-Saharan Africa. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalised Method of Moments and data from 42 countries during the period 2004-2014. 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 the 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. Findings associated with lower levels of education are not significant. As the main policy implication, income inequality should not be tolerated above the established thresholds in order for gender inclusive education to promote gender inclusive formal economic participation. Other implications are discussed in the light of Sustainable Development Goals. This research complements the existing literature by providing inequality thresholds that should not be exceeded in order for gender inclusive education to promote the involvement of women in the formal economic sector.
- Published
- 2019
25. Globalisation and female economic participation in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Efobi, Uchenna Rapuluchukwu, Tanankem, Belmondo V., and Osabuohien, Evans
- Subjects
inclusive development ,D60 ,E60 ,O55 ,female ,inequality ,F59 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,gender ,labour force participation ,Globalisation ,F40 - Abstract
This study assesses the relationship between globalisation and the economic participation of women (EPW) in 47 Sub-Saharan African countries for the period 1990-2013. EPW is measured with the female labour force participation and employment rates. The empirical evidence is based on Panel-corrected Standard Errors and Fixed Effects regressions. The findings show that the positive effect of the overall globalisation index on EPW is dampened by its political component and driven by its economic and social components, with a higher positive magnitude from the former or economic globalisation. For the most part, the findings are robust to the control for several structural and institutional characteristics. An extended analysis by unbundling globalisation shows that the positive incidence of social globalisation is driven by information flow (compared to personal contact and cultural proximity) while the positive effect of economic globalisation is driven by actual flows (relative to restrictions). Pol icy implications are discussed with some emphasis on how to elevate women's social status and potentially reduce their victimisation to male dominance.
- Published
- 2019
26. Inequality and the economic participation of women in Sub-Saharan Africa: An empirical investigation
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study investigates the effect of inequality on female employment in 42 countries in sub- Saharan Africa for the period 2004-2014. Three inequality indicators are used, namely, the: Gini coefficient, Atkinson index and Palma ratio. Two indicators of gender inclusion are also employed, namely: female employment and female unemployment rates. The empirical analysis is based on the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM).The following main findings are established. First, inequality increases female unemployment in regressions based on the Palma ratio. Second, from the robustness checks, inequality reduces female employment within the frameworks of the Gini coefficient and Palma ratio.
- Published
- 2019
27. Thresholds of external flows for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Uduji, Joseph I., and Okolo-Obasi, Elda N.
- Subjects
Foreign aid ,Inclusive development ,O55 ,Remittances ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,F21 ,Foreign investment ,I30 ,F24 ,F35 - Abstract
This research investigates the incidence of enhancing external flows on inclusive human development in a panel of 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It complements the literature by examining the relevance of enhancing three types of external flows, namely: development assistance, foreign investment and remittances. Ordinary Least Squares, Tobit, Fixed effects, Generalised Method of Moments and Quantile regressions are used as empirical strategies. The following main results are apparent: (i) between 60 and 150 (% of GDP) is the threshold of foreign aid; (ii) 33.333 (% of GDP) is the foreign investment threshold and (iii) 25 (% of GDP) is the critical mass of remittances. At the established critical masses or thresholds, external flows start having positive effects on inclusive human development. Countries characterized by inclusive development levels that are low need more investment in foreign aid for inclusive human development compared to their counterparts characterized by inclusive human development levels that are high.
- Published
- 2019
28. Inequality and gender economic inclusion: The moderating role of financial access in sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Nnanna, Joseph, and Acha-Anyi, Paul N.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 ,Finance - Abstract
This study assesses how financial access can be used to modulate the effect of income inequality on gender economic inclusion. The focus is on 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 2004-2014 and the empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) and Fixed Effects (FE) regressions. Significant results are not apparent in the FE regressions. The following main findings are established from the GMM estimations. There is a negative net effect from the role of financial access in modulating the effect of the Palma ratio on female labour force participation while there is a positive net effect from the relevance of financial access in moderating the effect of the Gini coefficient on female unemployment. There are also net negative effects from the role of financial access in modulating the Gini coefficient and the Palma ratio for female employment. The unexpected findings are elucidated and implications are discussed in the light of challenges to Sustainable Development Goals in the sub-region. Inter alia: financial access is a necessary but not a sufficient moderator of income inequality for the enhancement of women's participation in the formal economic sector.
- Published
- 2019
29. Fighting terrorism in Africa when existing terrorism levels matter
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Tchamyou, Vanessa, Asongu, Ndemaze, and Tchamyou, Nina P.
- Subjects
Political stability ,Inclusive development ,Military expenditure ,C52 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,Terrorism ,D74 ,F42 ,O16 ,O38 - Abstract
This study examines policy tools in the fight against terrorism when existing levels of terrorism matter in 53 African countries for the period 1998-2012. The empirical evidence is based on contemporary, non-contemporary and Instrumental Variable Quantile regressions (QR) which enable the investigation throughout the conditional distributions of domestic, transnational and total terrorism dynamics. The following findings are established. First, counterterrorism policy instruments of inclusive human development and military expenditure further fuel terrorim. Second, political stability negatively affects terrorism with a negative threshold effect. Political stability estimates are consistently significant with increasing negative magnitudes throughout the conditional distributions of domestic and total terrorism. Policy implications are discussed.
- Published
- 2019
30. How enhancing gender inclusion affects inequality: Thresholds of complementary policies for sustainable development
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,Sustainable development ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study investigates how enhancing gender inclusion affects inequality in 42 African countries for the period 2004-2014. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalized Method of Moments. Three inequality indicators are used, namely, the: Gini coefficient, Atkinson index, and Palma ratio. The two gender inclusion measurements used include female labour force participation and female employment. The following main findings are established. There are positive net effects on inequality from the enhancement of gender inclusion dynamics. An extended threshold analysis is used to assess critical masses at which further increasing gender inclusion enhances inequality. The established thresholds are: (i) 55.555 "employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%)"for the nexus with the Gini coefficient. (ii) 50 "labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+)" and between 50 to 55 "employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%)", for the Atkinson index. (iii) 61.87 "labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+)" for the Palma ratio.These established thresholds are worthwhile for sustainable development because, beyond the critical masses, policy makers should complement the gender inclusion policy with other measures designed to reduce income inequality. Some complementary measures that can be taken on board beyond the established thresholds could focus on enhancing, inter alia: information and communication technology, infrastructural development; financial inclusion and inclusive education.
- Published
- 2019
31. Income levels, governance and inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,Income levels ,Governance ,O55 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,K40 ,I10 ,I32 ,D31 - Abstract
This study examines how income-driven governance affects inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa with data for the period 2000-2012. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) and Tobit regressions. Nine bundled and unbundled concepts of governance are used: political (voice & accountability and political stability/no violence), economic (government effectiveness and regulation quality) and institutional (corruption-control and the rule of law) governances. The main finding is that "middle income"-driven governance has a higher effect on inclusive human development than "low income"-driven governance. Policy implications are discussed in the light of: (i) the contemporary relevance of findings; (ii) the pivotal role of a higher income level in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda; and (iii) inconsistent strands in the literature and in foreign aid policies.
- Published
- 2019
32. Inequality and gender inclusion: Minimum ICT policy thresholds for promoting female employment in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,ICT ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
The study assesses how ICT modulates the effect of inequality on female economic participation in a panel of 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa over the period 2004-2014. Three inequality indicators are used, namely: the Gini coefficient, the Atkinson index and the Palma ratio. The adopted ICT indicators are mobile phone penetration, internet penetration and fixed broadband subscriptions. Three gender economic inclusion indicators are also used for the analysis, namely: female labour force participation, female unemployment and female employment. The Generalised Method of Moments is employed as empirical strategy. The findings show that enhancing ICT beyond certain thresholds is necessary for ICT to mitigate inequality in order to enhance gender economic participation. First, for female labour force participation, a minimum threshold of 165.714 mobile phone penetration per 100 people is required for the Palma ratio. Second, minimum ICT thresholds for the reduction of female unemployment are: (i) 87.783, 107.486 and 152.500 mobile phone penetration per 100 people for respectively, the Gini coefficient, the Atkinson index and the Palma ratio; (ii) 39.618 internet penetration per 100 people for the Atkinson index and (iii) 4.500 fixed broadband subscriptions for the Palma ratio. Third, the corresponding ICT thresholds for the promotion of female employment are: (i) 120.369 and 85.533 mobile phone penetration per 100 people for respectively, the Gini coefficient and the Atkinson index and (ii) 30.005 internet penetration per 100 people for the Gini coefficient. The established thresholds make economic sense and can be feasibly implemented by policy makers in order to induce favourable effects on gender economic inclusion dynamics.
- Published
- 2019
33. Inequality thresholds, governance and gender economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,Inequality ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
Inequality and gender economic exclusion are major policy concerns facing sub-Saharan Africa in the post-2015 development agenda. The study provides critical masses of inequality that should not be exceeded if governance is to promote gender economic participation. The research focuses on 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa using annual data spanning from 2004 to 2014. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalized Method of Moments. The following findings are established. First, inequality (i.e. the Gini coefficient) levels that completely nullify the positive effect of governance on female labour force participation are 0.708 for political stability, 0.601 for voice & accountability, 0.588 for government effectiveness, 0.631 for regulatory quality, 0.612 for the rule of law, and 0.550 for corruption control. Second, inequality thresholds at which female unemployment can no longer be mitigated by governance channels include: 0.561 (for political stability) and 0.465 (for the rule of law). Third, inequality levels that completely dampen the positive impact of governance on female employment are 0.608 for political stability, 0.580 for voice & accountability, 0.581 for government effectiveness, and 0.557 for the rule of law. As the main policy implication, for good governance to promote gender economic inclusion, inequality levels should not exceed established thresholds.
- Published
- 2019
34. Fighting terrorism in Africa: Complementarity between inclusive development, military expenditure and political stability.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Le Roux, Sara, and Singh, Pritam
- Subjects
- *
POLITICAL stability , *TERRORISM , *MOMENTS method (Statistics) , *POLITICAL development - Abstract
This study examines complementarities between inclusive development, military expenditure and political stability in the fight against terrorism in 53 African countries for the period 1998–2012. Hence the policy variables employed in the study are inclusive development, military expenditure and political stability. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) with forward orthogonal deviations. The paper reports three main findings. Firstly, military expenditure and inclusive development are substitutes and not complements. Secondly, it is more relevant to use political stability as a complement of inclusive development than to use inclusive development as a complement of political stability. Thirdly, it can be broadly established that military expenditure and political stability are complementary. In the light of the sequencing, complementarity and substitutability, when the three policy variables are viewed within the same framework, it is more feasible to first pursue political stability and then complement it with military expenditure and inclusive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Social media and inclusive human development in Africa.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A. and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
QUANTILE regression ,HUMAN Development Index ,HUMAN beings ,SOCIAL media - Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between social media and inclusive human development in 49 African countries for the year 2012. Social media is measured with Facebook penetration whereas inclusive human development is proxied by the inequality- adjusted human development index. The empirical evidence is based on Ordinary Least Squares, Tobit and Quantile regressions. Ordinary Least Squares provided baseline results, Tobit regressions account for the limited range in the outcome variable while Quantile regressions are engaged to control for initial levels of inequality-adjusted human development. From Ordinary Least Squares and Tobit results, Facebook penetration is positively associated with inclusive human development. Quantile regressions confirm this positive nexus and further establish that the positive association is slightly higher in magnitude in the above-median sub-sample. From a comparative assessment, it is apparent that with the exception of the resource-wealth sub-samples, higher levels of Facebook penetration are associated with comparatively higher levels of inclusive human development. Accordingly, the positive association between Facebook penetration and inclusive human development is: (i) a positive function of income levels and (ii) more apparent in Middle East and North African countries (compared to Sub-Saharan African countries), English common law countries (compared to their French civil law counterparts), and coastal countries (in relation to landlocked countries). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Female economic participation with information and communication technology (ICT) advancement: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Efobi, Uchenna Rapuluchukwu, Voufo, Belmondo Tanankem, and Asongu, Simplice
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,Technology ,O55 ,ICT ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study complements existing literature by investigating how the advancement in information and communication technology affects the formal economic participation of women. The focus is on 48 African countries for the period 1990-2014. The empirical evidence is based on Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects and the Generalized Method of Moments regressions. The results show that improving communication technology increases female economic participation with the following consistent order of increasing magnitude: mobile phone penetration; internet penetration, and fixed broadband subscriptions. The findings are robust to the control for heterogeneities across countries. Policy implications are discussed.
- Published
- 2018
37. How enhancing information and communication technology has affected inequality in Africa for sustainable development: An empirical investigation
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,ICT ,Sustainable development ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study examines if enhancing ICT reduces inequality in 48 countries in Africa for the period 2004-2014. Three inequality indictors are used, namely, the: Gini coefficient, Atkinson index and Palma ratio. The adopted ICT indicators include: mobile phone penetration, internet penetration and fixed broadband subscriptions. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalised Method of Moments. Enhancing internet penetration and fixed broadband subscriptions have a net effect on reducing the Gini coefficient and the Atkinson index, whereas increasing mobile phone penetration and internet penetration reduces the Palma ratio. Policy implications are discussed in the light of challenges to Sustainable Development Goals.
- Published
- 2018
38. The role of inclusive development and military expenditure in modulating the effect of terrorism on governance
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Nwachukwu, Jacinta C., and Le Roux, Sara
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,Governance ,C52 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,Terrorism ,D74 ,F42 ,O38 ,P37 - Abstract
Purpose- The study investigates the role of inclusive human development and military expenditure in modulating the effect of terrorism on governance. Design/methodology/approach- It is based on 53 African countries for the period 1998-2012 and interactive Generalised Method of Moments is employed. Six governance indicators from the World Bank and two terrorism variables are used, namely: domestic and transnational terrorism dynamics. Findings- The following main findings are established. There is a negative net effect on governance (regulation quality and corruption-control) when inclusive human development is used to reduce terrorism. There is a positive net impact on governance ("voice and accountability" and rule of law) when military expenditure is used to reduce domestic terrorism. Originality/value- We have complemented the sparse literature on the use of policy variables to mitigate the effect of policy syndromes on macroeconomic outcomes.
- Published
- 2018
39. ICT, financial access and gender inclusion in the formal economic sector: Evidence from Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
Inclusive development ,O55 ,ICT ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,Gender ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
The study investigates the relevance of information and communication technology (ICT) in modulating the effect of financial access on female economic participation. Female economic participation is proxied by female labor force participation, financial access is measured with deposit and credit channels while ICT is proxied by mobile phone penetration, internet penetration and fixed broadband subscriptions. The focus of the study is on 48 African countries for the period 2004-2014 and the empirical evidence is based on Generalized Method of Moments. Policy thresholds are established at which, ICT modulates financial access to induce favourable effects on female economic participation. These policy thresholds are: (i) 160 mobile phone penetration (per 100 people) for the deposit channel and (ii) 2.166 and 0.75 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people for respectively, the deposit mechanism and credit channel. Overall the study supports the importance of ICT in moderating financial access for enhanced female economic participation.
- Published
- 2018
40. Doing business and inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
O10 ,O55 ,Doing Business ,M20 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,O30 ,Inclusive Development ,Entrepreneurship ,I30 - Abstract
Purpose - This study examines how doing business affects inclusive human development in 48 sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000-2012. Design/methodology/approach - The measurement of inclusive human development encompasses both absolute pro-poor and relative pro-poor concepts of inclusive development. Three doing business variables are used, namely: the number of start-up procedures required to register a business; time required to start a business; and time to prepare and pay taxes. The empirical evidence is based on Fixed Effects and Generalised Method of Moments regressions. Findings - The findings show that increasing constraints to the doing of business have a negative effect on inclusive human development. Originality/value - The study is timely and very relevant to the post-2015 Sustainable Development agenda for two fundamental reasons: (i) Exclusive development is a critical policy syndrome in Africa because about 50% of countries in the continent did not attain the MDG extreme poverty target despite enjoying more than two decades of growth resurgence . (ii) Growth in Africa is primarily driven by large extractive industries and with the population of the continent expected to double in about 30 years, scholarship on entrepreneurship for inclusive development is very welcome. This is essentially because studies have shown that the increase in unemployment (resulting from the underlying demographic change) would be accommodated by the private sector, not the public sector.
- Published
- 2018
41. Information Technology and Gender Economic Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Amankwah‐Amoah, Joseph, Nting, Rexon T., and Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong
- Subjects
LABOR supply ,INFORMATION technology ,CELL phones ,GENDER inequality ,GENDER ,POSTSECONDARY education - Abstract
This study investigates how ICT affects gender economic inclusion via gender parity education channels. We examine the issue using data from 49 countries in sub–Saharan Africa for the period 2004–2018 divided into: (i) 42 countries for the period 2004–2014; and (ii) 49 countries for the period 2008-2018. Given the overwhelming evidence of negative net effects in the first sample, an extended analysis is used to establish thresholds of ICT penetration that nullify the established net negative effects. We found that in order to enhance female labor force participation, the following ICT thresholds are worthwhile for the secondary education channel: 165 mobile phone penetration per 100 people, 21.471 internet penetration per 100 people and 3.475 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. For the same outcome of inducing a positive effect on female labor force participation, a 31.966 internet penetration per 100 people threshold, is required for the mechanism of tertiary school education. These computed thresholds have economic meaning and policy relevance because they are within the established ICT policy ranges. In the second sample, a mobile phone penetration threshold of 122.20 per 100 people is needed for the tertiary education channel to positively affect female labor force participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Fighting terrorism in Africa when existing terrorism levels matter.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Tchamyou, Vanessa S., Asongu, Ndemaze, and Tchamyou, Nina P.
- Subjects
DOMESTIC terrorism ,TERRORISM ,POLITICAL stability ,QUANTILE regression ,COUNTERTERRORISM - Abstract
This study examines policy tools in the fight against terrorism when existing levels of terrorism matter in 53 African countries for the period 1998–2012. The empirical evidence is based on contemporary, non-contemporary and Instrumental Variable Quantile regressions (QR) which enable the investigation throughout the conditional distributions of domestic, transnational and total terrorism dynamics. The following findings are established. First, counterterrorism policy instruments of inclusive human development and military expenditure further fuel terrorim. Second, political stability negatively affects terrorism with a negative threshold effect. Political stability estimates are consistently significant with increasing negative magnitudes throughout the conditional distributions of domestic and total terrorism. Policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. On the Relationship between Globalisation and the Economic Participation of Women in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice, Efobi, Uchenna R., and Tanankem, Belmondo V.
- Subjects
inclusive development ,D60 ,E60 ,O55 ,inequality ,F59 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,Globalisation ,F40 - Abstract
This study assesses the relationship between globalisation and the economic participation of women (EPW) in 47 Sub-Saharan African countries for the period 1990-2013. Two indicators are used to measure EPW, namely, the: female labour force participation and employment rates. The empirical evidence is based on Panel-corrected Standard Errors and Fixed Effects regressions. The findings show that the positive effect of the overall globalisation index on EPW is dampened by its political component and driven by its economic and social components, with a higher positive magnitude from the former or economic globalisation. For the most part, the findings are robust to the control for several structural and institutional characteristics: varying conditioning information sets, changes in the growth of urban population, government consumption, legal systems, resource wealth, health, technological advancement, political strife and conflicts, income levels and levels of industrialisation. An extended analysis by unbundling globalisation shows that the positive incidence of social globalisation is driven by information flow (compared to personal contact and cultural proximity) while the positive effect of economic globalisation is driven by actual flows (relative to restrictions). Policy implications are discussed.
- Published
- 2017
44. External flows and inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice and Leke, Ivo J.
- Subjects
Foreign aid ,Inclusive development ,O55 ,Remittances ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,F21 ,Foreign investment ,I30 ,F24 ,F35 - Abstract
The study assesses how external flows influence inclusive human development in a panel of 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000-2012. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions and Generalised Method of Moments. The findings from both estimation techniques reveal that remittances and FDI increase inclusive development whereas foreign aid has the opposite effect. The results suggest some positive and negative impacts of interest for further analysis. First, remittances are negatively associated with: (i) Middle income countries compared to Low income countries where the effect is not significant; (ii) French Civil law countries compared to English Common law countries where the effect is positive and (iii) Resource-rich countries compared to their Resource-poor counterparts where the effect is positive. Second, foreign aid is more negatively linked to Low income, French Civil law, Islam-dominated, Un-landlocked, Resource-rich and Politically-unstable countries. Third, FDI is positively associated with: (i) Low income, French Civil law and Landlocked countries compared to respectively Middle income, English Common law and Un-landlocked countries where the effect is insignificant and (ii) Politically-stable countries compared to their Politically-unstable counterparts where the effect is negative.
- Published
- 2017
45. Foreign Aid Complementarities and Inclusive Human Development in Africa.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A. and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
- *
INTERNATIONAL economic assistance , *HUMANITARIAN assistance , *INFRASTRUCTURE (Economics) , *DEBT - Abstract
This study complements existing literature by assessing how various types of foreign aid complement each other in boosting inclusive human development in Africa. (a) When 'aid to social infrastructure' is moderated with other aid types, 'action on debts' is substitutive whereas 'aid to the production sector', 'aid for program assistance' and humanitarian assistance are complementary. (b) 'Aid to the production sector' ('action on debt') is complementary (substitutive) to 'aid for economic infrastructure'. (c) Whereas 'action on debt' is a substitute to 'aid to the production sector', 'aid for social infrastructure' and 'aid for economic infrastructure' are complementary. (d) 'Action on debt' is a substitute for 'aid to the multi-sector'. (e) While 'aid for social infrastructure' and 'action on debt' are substitutive to 'aid for program assistance'; humanitarian assistance is complementary. (f) The following are substitutes to 'action on debt': 'aid for economic infrastructure', 'aid to the production sector', 'aid to the multi-sector' and 'program assistance'. (g) 'Aid for social infrastructure' and 'program assistance' are complementary to humanitarian assistance. The findings reveal various patterns that inform policy makers on the relevance of sequencing aid types to enhance inclusive development. Future research should focus on country-specific studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Finance, inequality and inclusive education in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Nnanna, Joseph, and Acha-Anyi, Paul N.
- Subjects
INCLUSIVE education ,GENERALIZED method of moments ,GENDER inequality ,GINI coefficient ,EQUALITY - Abstract
This research establishes inequality critical masses that should not be exceeded in order for financial access to promote gender parity inclusive education. The focus is on 42 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the data is for the period 2004–2014. The estimation approach is the Generalized Method of Moments. When remittances are involved in the conditioning information set: (i) the Palma ratio should not exceed 6.000 in order for financial access to promote gender parity inclusive "primary and secondary education" and (ii) the Atkinson index should not exceed 0.695 in order for financial access to promote inclusive tertiary education. However, when the internet is involved in the conditioning information set, it is established that in order for financial access to promote inclusive primary and secondary education, the: (i) Gini coefficient should not exceed 0.571; (ii) Atkinson index should not be above 0.750 and (iii) Palma ratio should be maintained below 8.000. Irrespective of variable in the conditioning information set, what is apparent is that inequality decreases the incidence of financial access on inclusive education. Hence, a common policy measure is to reduce inequality in order to promote inclusive education using the financial access mechanism. Policy implications are discussed in the light of Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. Inequality and gender economic inclusion: The moderating role of financial access in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A., Nnanna, Joseph, and Acha-Anyi, Paul N.
- Subjects
GENDER inequality ,GINI coefficient ,INCOME inequality ,WOMEN'S employment ,MOMENTS method (Statistics) - Abstract
This study assesses how financial access can be used to modulate the effect of income inequality on gender economic inclusion. The focus is on 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 2004–2014 and the empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) and Fixed Effects (FE) regressions. Significant results are not apparent in the FE regressions The following main findings are established from the GMM estimations. There is a negative net effect from the role of financial access in modulating the effect of the Palma ratio on female labour force participation while there is a positive net effect from the relevance of financial access in moderating the effect of the Gini coefficient on female unemployment. There are also net negative effects from the role of financial access in modulating the Gini coefficient and the Palma ratio for female employment. The unexpected findings are elucidated and implications are discussed in the light of challenges to Sustainable Development Goals in the sub-region. Inter alia : financial access is a necessary but not a sufficient moderator of income inequality for the enhancement of women's participation in the formal economic sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. How enhancing gender inclusion affects inequality: Thresholds of complementary policies for sustainable development.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A. and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
SUSTAINABLE development ,GINI coefficient ,GENDER ,INCOME inequality ,WOMEN'S employment - Abstract
This study investigates how enhancing gender inclusion affects inequality in 42 African countries for the period 2004–2014. The empirical evidence is based on the generalised method of moments. Three inequality indicators are used, namely, the Gini coefficient, Atkinson index, and Palma ratio. The two gender inclusion measurements used include female labour force participation and female employment. The following main findings are established. There are positive net effects on inequality from the enhancement of gender inclusion dynamics. An extended threshold analysis is used to assess critical masses at which further increasing gender inclusion enhances inequality. The established thresholds are as follows: (a) 55.555 "employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%)" for the nexus with the Gini coefficient. (b) 50 "labour force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+)" and between 50 and 55 "employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%)", for the Atkinson index. (c) 61.87 "labour force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+)" for the Palma ratio. These established thresholds are worthwhile for sustainable development because, beyond the critical masses, policymakers should complement the gender inclusion policy with other measures designed to reduce income inequality. Some complementary measures that can be taken on board beyond the established thresholds could focus on enhancing, inter alia, information and communication technology, infrastructural development, financial inclusion, and inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. Inequality thresholds, governance and gender economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Author
-
Asongu, Simplice A. and Odhiambo, Nicholas M.
- Subjects
GENERALIZED method of moments ,POLITICAL stability ,EQUALITY ,GINI coefficient ,WOMEN'S employment - Abstract
Inequality and gender economic exclusion are major policy concerns facing sub-Saharan Africa in the post-2015 development agenda. This paper identifies 'thresholds' of inequality that should not be exceeded if governance is to promote gender economic participation. The research focuses on 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa using annual data from 2004 to 2014. The empirical work utilises the Generalized Method of Moments. The following findings are established. First, inequality (i.e. the Gini coefficient) levels that completely nullify the positive effect of governance on female labour force participation are 0.708 for political stability, 0.601 for voice & accountability, 0.588 for government effectiveness, 0.631 for regulatory quality, 0.612 for the rule of law, and 0.550 for corruption-control. Second, inequality thresholds at which female unemployment can no longer be mitigated by governance channels include: 0.561 for political stability and 0.465 for the rule of law. Third, inequality levels that completely dampen the positive impact of governance on female employment are 0.608 for political stability, 0.580 for voice & accountability, 0.581 for government effectiveness, and 0.557 for the rule of law. As the main policy implication, for good governance to promote gender economic inclusion, inequality levels should not exceed such thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Technological Advancement and the Evolving Gender Identities: A Focus on the Level of Female Economic Participation in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
-
Efobi, Uchenna, Tanankem, Belmondo, and Asongu, Simplice
- Subjects
Technology ,Inclusive development ,O55 ,O40 ,Africa ,ddc:330 ,G20 ,I10 ,I32 - Abstract
This study investigates how technological advancement improves gender identity by means of female economic participation in a panel 48 African countries for the period 1990-2014. Two indicators are used to measure female economic participation, namely, the: female labour force participation and employment rates. Technological advancement is measured with three main indicators, notably: internet penetration, mobile phone penetration and fixed broad band subscriptions. The empirical evidence is based on Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects and System Generalized Method of Moments regressions. The findings show that improvement in technology increases female economic participation with the following consistent order of increasing magnitude: mobile phone penetration; internet penetration and fixed broad band subscriptions. The findings are robust to the control for: countries’ levels in economic development; the use of contemporary technology advancement indicators; internal conflicts and political stability; the level of social globalization and the use of alternative instruments. Policy implications are discussed.
- Published
- 2016
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.