@unpublished{Asongu,2019,
title = {Inequality and Gender Inclusion: Minimum ICT Policy Thresholds for Promoting Female Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa},
author = {Simplice A. Asongu, Nicholas M. Odhiambo},
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/ICT-Inequality-and-Gender-Inclusion.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-22},
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.},
keywords = {Africa; ICT; Gender},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
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.
@unpublished{Asongu,2019,
title = {Effects of Oil Resource Endowment, Natural Gas and Agriculture Output: Policy Options for Inclusive Growth},
author = {Ekundayo P. Mesagan, Juliet I. Adenuga},
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/Effects-of-Oil-Resource-Endowment-Natural-Gas-and-Agriculture-Output.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-20},
abstract = {The fact that inclusive growth involves the width of growth, benefit-sharing, and human development pertaining to health care makes this study to examine the impact of crude oil, natural gas and agriculture output on inclusive growth in Nigeria between 1970 and 2017. We use employment, life expectancy, and income per capita to capture inclusive growth, from where we compute inclusive growth index using the Principal Component Analysis. The result of the Autoregressive Distributed Lag suggests that crude oil and natural gas production insignificantly impact inclusive growth while agriculture output is significant. It means that oil resource wealth has neither been maximised to widen growth contribution nor used to deepen the growth spread in Nigeria whereas the agriculture resource is critical for inclusive growth. It is important to focus on expanding human capacity by improving employment, health care delivery, and investing in modular mechanised farming for agriculture graduates to promote inclusive growth.},
keywords = {Agriculture Output; Inclusive Growth},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
The fact that inclusive growth involves the width of growth, benefit-sharing, and human development pertaining to health care makes this study to examine the impact of crude oil, natural gas and agriculture output on inclusive growth in Nigeria between 1970 and 2017. We use employment, life expectancy, and income per capita to capture inclusive growth, from where we compute inclusive growth index using the Principal Component Analysis. The result of the Autoregressive Distributed Lag suggests that crude oil and natural gas production insignificantly impact inclusive growth while agriculture output is significant. It means that oil resource wealth has neither been maximised to widen growth contribution nor used to deepen the growth spread in Nigeria whereas the agriculture resource is critical for inclusive growth. It is important to focus on expanding human capacity by improving employment, health care delivery, and investing in modular mechanised farming for agriculture graduates to promote inclusive growth.
@unpublished{Asongu,2019,
title = {The Conditional Relationship between Renewable Energy and Environmental Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa},
author = {Simplice A. Asongu, Chimere O. Iheonu, Kingsley O. Odo },
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/The-Conditional-Relationship-between-Renewable-Energy-and-Environmental-Quality-in-SSA.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-20},
abstract = {This paper complements existing literature by assessing the conditional relationship between renewable energy and environmental quality in a sample of 40 African countries for the period 2002 to 2017. The empirical evidence is based on fixed effects regressions and quantile fixed effects regressions. The findings from both estimation techniques show that renewable energy consistently decreases carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Moreover, the negative effect is a decreasing function of CO2 emissions or the negative effect of renewable energy on CO2 emissions decreases with increasing levels of CO2 emissions. In other words, countries with higher levels of CO2 emissions consistently experience a less negative effect compared to their counterparts with lower levels of CO2 emissions. Policy implications are discussed.},
keywords = {Renewable energy; Carbon emissions},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
This paper complements existing literature by assessing the conditional relationship between renewable energy and environmental quality in a sample of 40 African countries for the period 2002 to 2017. The empirical evidence is based on fixed effects regressions and quantile fixed effects regressions. The findings from both estimation techniques show that renewable energy consistently decreases carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Moreover, the negative effect is a decreasing function of CO2 emissions or the negative effect of renewable energy on CO2 emissions decreases with increasing levels of CO2 emissions. In other words, countries with higher levels of CO2 emissions consistently experience a less negative effect compared to their counterparts with lower levels of CO2 emissions. Policy implications are discussed.
@unpublished{Asongu,2019,
title = {Farmers’ Food Price Volatility and Nigeria’s Growth Enhancement Support Scheme},
author = {Joseph I. Uduji, Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, Simplice A. Asongu},
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/Farmers-Food-Price-Volatility-and-Nigeria-Growth-Enhancement-Support-Scheme.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-20},
abstract = {The prices of food in Nigeria have become considerably higher and more volatile since 2012. The aim of this research was to ascertain factors affecting farmers’ involvement in the growth enhancement support programme (GESS) in the country. We ascertained the effect of the GESS on the handiness of market information and agricultural inputs that impact on price volatility at farm gate level. In number, 600 rural farmers were sampled across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Results obtained from the use of a bivariate probit model show that farmers relied on the GESS for resolving food price volatility by making available the food market information and agricultural inputs that cut down the incidence and degree of panic-compelled price increment in Nigeria. The findings suggested the need to enhance the GESS in line with the agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) by reducing the hindrances mostly connected to the use of mobile phones, and how far the registration and collection centers are.},
keywords = {Food; agriculture; Nigeria},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
The prices of food in Nigeria have become considerably higher and more volatile since 2012. The aim of this research was to ascertain factors affecting farmers’ involvement in the growth enhancement support programme (GESS) in the country. We ascertained the effect of the GESS on the handiness of market information and agricultural inputs that impact on price volatility at farm gate level. In number, 600 rural farmers were sampled across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Results obtained from the use of a bivariate probit model show that farmers relied on the GESS for resolving food price volatility by making available the food market information and agricultural inputs that cut down the incidence and degree of panic-compelled price increment in Nigeria. The findings suggested the need to enhance the GESS in line with the agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) by reducing the hindrances mostly connected to the use of mobile phones, and how far the registration and collection centers are.
@unpublished{Asongu,2019,
title = {REER Imbalances and Macroeconomic Adjustments: evidence from the CEMAC zone},
author = {Simplice A. Asongu, Joseph Nnanna },
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/REER-Imbalances-and-Macroeconomic-Adjustments.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-19},
abstract = {The EMU crisis holds special lessons for existing monetary unions. We assess the behavior of real effective exchange rates (REERs) of members of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) zone with respect to their long-term equilibrium paths. A reduced form of the fundamental equilibrium exchange rate (FEER) model is estimated and associated misalignments. Our findings suggest that for majority of countries, macroeconomic fundamentals have the expected associations with the exchange rate fluctuations. The analysis also reveals that only the REER adjustments of Cameroon and Gabon are significant in restoring the long-term equilibrium in event of a shock. The Cameroonian economic fundamentals of terms of trade, government expenditure and openness have different long-term relations with the REER in comparison to those of other member states. There is no need for an adjustment in the level of the peg based on the present quantitative analysis of REER paths.},
keywords = {Exchange rate; Macroeconomic impact},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
The EMU crisis holds special lessons for existing monetary unions. We assess the behavior of real effective exchange rates (REERs) of members of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) zone with respect to their long-term equilibrium paths. A reduced form of the fundamental equilibrium exchange rate (FEER) model is estimated and associated misalignments. Our findings suggest that for majority of countries, macroeconomic fundamentals have the expected associations with the exchange rate fluctuations. The analysis also reveals that only the REER adjustments of Cameroon and Gabon are significant in restoring the long-term equilibrium in event of a shock. The Cameroonian economic fundamentals of terms of trade, government expenditure and openness have different long-term relations with the REER in comparison to those of other member states. There is no need for an adjustment in the level of the peg based on the present quantitative analysis of REER paths.
@unpublished{Asongu,2019,
title = {Building Knowledge-Based Economies in Africa: A Systematic Review of Policies and Strategies},
author = {Simplice A. Asongu, Nicholas M. Odhiambo },
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/Building-Knowledge-Based-Economies-in-Africa.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-19},
abstract = {Compared to other regions of the world, Africa is lagging in its drive toward knowledge-based economies. This study systematically reviews the literature in order to highlight the policies and strategies with which African countries can accelerate their current drive towards building knowledge-based economies. These are discussed in terms of three pillars of the World Bank’s knowledge economy framework. They are the indices for: (i) education and skilled population, (ii) information and communication technology and (iii) economic incentives and institutional regime.},
keywords = {Knowledge economy; Development; Africa},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
Compared to other regions of the world, Africa is lagging in its drive toward knowledge-based economies. This study systematically reviews the literature in order to highlight the policies and strategies with which African countries can accelerate their current drive towards building knowledge-based economies. These are discussed in terms of three pillars of the World Bank’s knowledge economy framework. They are the indices for: (i) education and skilled population, (ii) information and communication technology and (iii) economic incentives and institutional regime.
@article{Asongu,2019,
title = {Corporate social responsibility in Nigeria and multinational corporations in the fight against human trafficking in oil-producing communities},
author = {Joseph I. Uduji, Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, Simplice A. Asongu},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13549839.2019.1677583},
doi = {10.1080/13549839.2019.1677583},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-16},
journal = {Local Environment},
abstract = {In Nigeria, human trafficking is a hidden crime, driven by the current economic situation of the country. The Nigerian government has demonstrated significant efforts to combating human trafficking in the country by creating the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The incidents of human trafficking in the Nigeria’s oil-producing communities have remained among the highest in the country and higher than the national average. The objective of this investigation was to determine the impact of a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) model of multinational oil companies (MOCs) on the fight against human trafficking in the host communities. A total of one thousand, two hundred households were sampled across the rural communities of Niger Delta. Results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit model indicated that MOCs hold the key to combating human trafficking by fostering effective partnership across different sectors, if the highest CSR priority is assigned to reducing incidents of human trafficking in the oil-producing communities. Embracing the fight against human trafficking should form the foundation of General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoUs) practice, which in turn will provide the enabling environment for more widespread responsible business. As most of the human trafficking in the Niger Delta is exploited by relatives or friends; MOCs should involve traditional and religious leaders in the fight and set up GMoU clusters interventions specifically for anti-trafficking agencies including NAPTIP, the police and immigration to support their actions and improve efficiency.},
keywords = {CSR, Oil Companies; Human trafficking},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In Nigeria, human trafficking is a hidden crime, driven by the current economic situation of the country. The Nigerian government has demonstrated significant efforts to combating human trafficking in the country by creating the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The incidents of human trafficking in the Nigeria’s oil-producing communities have remained among the highest in the country and higher than the national average. The objective of this investigation was to determine the impact of a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) model of multinational oil companies (MOCs) on the fight against human trafficking in the host communities. A total of one thousand, two hundred households were sampled across the rural communities of Niger Delta. Results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit model indicated that MOCs hold the key to combating human trafficking by fostering effective partnership across different sectors, if the highest CSR priority is assigned to reducing incidents of human trafficking in the oil-producing communities. Embracing the fight against human trafficking should form the foundation of General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoUs) practice, which in turn will provide the enabling environment for more widespread responsible business. As most of the human trafficking in the Niger Delta is exploited by relatives or friends; MOCs should involve traditional and religious leaders in the fight and set up GMoU clusters interventions specifically for anti-trafficking agencies including NAPTIP, the police and immigration to support their actions and improve efficiency.
@article{Asongu,2019,
title = {Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) and Farmers’ Fertilizer Use in Rural Nigeria},
author = {Joseph I. Uduji, Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, Simplice A. Asongu},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-8268.12394},
doi = {10.1111/1467-8268.12394},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-16},
journal = {African Development Review },
volume = {31},
number = {3},
pages = {348-363},
abstract = {Fertilizer use in Nigeria is estimated at 13 kg/ha, which is far below the 200 kg/ha recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The objective of this investigation was to identify the determinant factors of farmers’ participation in Nigeria's Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS). In addition, we determined the impact of the GESS on fertilizer use in rural areas. A total of 1,200 rural farmers were sampled across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Results from the use of a recursive bivariate probit model indicated that GESS significantly impacted on the access and usage of fertilizer among the rural farmers; and that contact with extension agents, ownership of mobile phones, power for charging phone batteries, value output, mobile network coverage, ability to read and write were positive determinants of rural farmers’ participation in the GESS; whereas increased distance to registration and collection centers, and cultural constraints to married women reduced farmers’ tendency to participate in the GESS. The findings suggest that farmers’ participation in the GESS is a critical factor for raising fertilizer use in Nigeria. This implies that food security in sub‐Saharan Africa can be achieved by increasing the participation of rural farmers in the GESS.},
keywords = {agriculture, GESS, Nigeria},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Fertilizer use in Nigeria is estimated at 13 kg/ha, which is far below the 200 kg/ha recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The objective of this investigation was to identify the determinant factors of farmers’ participation in Nigeria's Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS). In addition, we determined the impact of the GESS on fertilizer use in rural areas. A total of 1,200 rural farmers were sampled across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Results from the use of a recursive bivariate probit model indicated that GESS significantly impacted on the access and usage of fertilizer among the rural farmers; and that contact with extension agents, ownership of mobile phones, power for charging phone batteries, value output, mobile network coverage, ability to read and write were positive determinants of rural farmers’ participation in the GESS; whereas increased distance to registration and collection centers, and cultural constraints to married women reduced farmers’ tendency to participate in the GESS. The findings suggest that farmers’ participation in the GESS is a critical factor for raising fertilizer use in Nigeria. This implies that food security in sub‐Saharan Africa can be achieved by increasing the participation of rural farmers in the GESS.
@article{Asongu,2019,
title = {The Role of ICT in Modulating the Effect of Education and Lifelong Learning on Income Inequality and Economic Growth in Africa},
author = {Vanessa S. Tchamyou, Simplice A. Asongu, Nicholas M. Odhiambo},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-8268.12388},
doi = {10.1111/1467-8268.12388},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-16},
journal = {African Development Review },
volume = {31},
number = {3},
pages = {261-274},
abstract = {This study assesses the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in modulating the impact of education and lifelong learning on income inequality and economic growth. It focuses on a sample of 48 African countries from 2004 to 2014. The empirical evidence is based on the generalized method of moments. The following findings are established. First, mobile phone and internet each interact with primary school education to decrease income inequality. Second, all ICT indicators interact with secondary school education to exert a negative impact on the Gini index. Third, fixed broadband distinctly interacts with primary school education and lifelong learning to have a positive effect on economic growth. Fourth, ICT indicators do not significantly influence inequality and economic growth through tertiary school education and lifelong learning. These main findings are further substantiated. Policy implications are discussed.},
keywords = {Education, ICT, Lifelong Learning; Growth},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study assesses the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in modulating the impact of education and lifelong learning on income inequality and economic growth. It focuses on a sample of 48 African countries from 2004 to 2014. The empirical evidence is based on the generalized method of moments. The following findings are established. First, mobile phone and internet each interact with primary school education to decrease income inequality. Second, all ICT indicators interact with secondary school education to exert a negative impact on the Gini index. Third, fixed broadband distinctly interacts with primary school education and lifelong learning to have a positive effect on economic growth. Fourth, ICT indicators do not significantly influence inequality and economic growth through tertiary school education and lifelong learning. These main findings are further substantiated. Policy implications are discussed.
@article{Asongu,2019,
title = {Global tourism and waves of terror: perspectives from military expenditure},
author = {Simplice A. Asongu, Paul N. Acha-Anyi},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19407963.2019.1676762},
doi = {10.1080/19407963.2019.1676762},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-11},
journal = {Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events},
abstract = {This study complements existing literature by investigating how military expenditure can modulate the effect of terrorism externalities on tourism. The geographical and temporal scopes are 163 countries and the period 2010–2015. The empirical evidence is based on negative binomial regressions. Terrorism externalities are measured in terms of terror-related incidents, injuries, fatalities and damaged properties. We find that military expenditure significantly lessens the destructive impact of these terror-related incidents in order to induce positive net effects on tourism. This finding is robust to all measurements of terrorism. Homicides and violent demonstrations reduce tourists’ arrivals whereas the rate of incarceration of convicted offenders has the opposite effect. The analysis is extended to income levels and regions in order to provide more opportunities for policy implications. Justifications for differences in these comparative tendencies are discussed.},
keywords = {Tourism; terrorism; panel data},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study complements existing literature by investigating how military expenditure can modulate the effect of terrorism externalities on tourism. The geographical and temporal scopes are 163 countries and the period 2010–2015. The empirical evidence is based on negative binomial regressions. Terrorism externalities are measured in terms of terror-related incidents, injuries, fatalities and damaged properties. We find that military expenditure significantly lessens the destructive impact of these terror-related incidents in order to induce positive net effects on tourism. This finding is robust to all measurements of terrorism. Homicides and violent demonstrations reduce tourists’ arrivals whereas the rate of incarceration of convicted offenders has the opposite effect. The analysis is extended to income levels and regions in order to provide more opportunities for policy implications. Justifications for differences in these comparative tendencies are discussed.
