Growth and Institutions: a potential medicine for the poor in sub-Saharan Africa

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Growth and Institutions: a potential medicine for the poor in sub-Saharan Africa
Author:	Akobeng, Eric
Year:	2016
Periodical:	African Development Review (ISSN 1467-8268)
Volume:	28
Issue:	1
Pages:	1-17
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Subsaharan Africa
Subjects:	gross national product poverty reduction institutions economic models
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8268.12163
Abstract:	The conventional wisdom is that growth is a precondition for poverty reduction. Paying particular attention to the level of growth, poverty and institutions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this paper investigates the effect of GDP per capita growth and sectoral growth on poverty and explores whether the growth-poverty link can be strengthened by institutions. Using the panel dataset of 41 SSA countries over the period 1981-2010 and dynamic two-step system generalized method of moment (GMM) estimator; it is found that GDP per capita growth is an important instrument for poverty reduction. Also, the growth of agriculture and the service sectors have direct poverty-reducing effects. The paper further reveals that good and accountable government, bureaucratic quality and sound policies and regulations are important ingredients in sustaining the growth-poverty link in SSA. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [Journal abstract]