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On the drivers of inflation in Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Anh D.M. Nguyen
  • Jemma Dridib
  • Filiz D. Unsal
  • Oral H. Williams

Abstract

The perception that inflation dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are driven by supply shocks implies a limited role for monetary policy in influencing inflation in the short run. SSA's rapid growth, its integration with the global economy, changes in the policy frameworks, among others, in the last decade suggest that the drivers of inflation may have changed. We quantitatively analyse inflation dynamics in SSA using a Global VAR model, which incorporates linkages among economies, as well as the role of regional and global demand and inflationary spillovers. We find that in the past 25 years, the main drivers of inflation have been domestic supply shocks and shocks to the exchange rate and monetary variables; but that, in recent years, the contribution of these shocks to inflation has fallen. Domestic demand pressures as well as global shocks, and particularly shocks to output, however, have played a larger role in driving inflation over the last decade. This implies a greater role of monetary policy as some SSA countries modernize their monetary policy frameworks.

Suggested Citation

  • Anh D.M. Nguyen & Jemma Dridib & Filiz D. Unsal & Oral H. Williams, 2017. "On the drivers of inflation in Sub-Saharan Africa," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 151, pages 71-84.
  • Handle: RePEc:cii:cepiie:2017-q3-151-6
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    11. Ojonugwa Usman & Muhammad Sani Musa, 2018. "Revisiting Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Consumer Price Inflation in Nigeria: A Cointegrated Vector Autoregressive Approach," Academic Journal of Economic Studies, Faculty of Finance, Banking and Accountancy Bucharest,"Dimitrie Cantemir" Christian University Bucharest, vol. 4(1), pages 60-67, March.
    12. Achua, Joseph Kwaghkor & Yusuf, Mariam & Wakdok, Samuel Stephen, 2022. "Nonlinear public debt and resource rent nexus in highly indebted resource-rich sub-Saharan economies: Evidence from Nigeria," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    13. Sephton, Peter S., 2022. "Revisiting the inflation-hedging properties of precious metals in Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
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    15. Gil-Alana, Luis A. & Mudida, Robert, 2017. "CPI and inflation in Kenya. Structural breaks, non-linearities and dependence," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 72-79.
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    19. Adekoya, Oluwasegun B. & Oliyide, Johnson A. & Tahir, Hammad, 2021. "What do we know about the inflation-hedging property of precious metals in Africa? The case of leading producers of the commodities," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    20. Dridi, Jemma & Nguyen, Anh D. M., 2017. "Inflation Convergence In East African Countries," MPRA Paper 80393, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    22. Ashford C. Chea, 2018. "The 2014-16 Global Commodity Price Declines and Sub-Saharan Africa¡¯s Real Economy: Analysis for Sustainable Development," Business and Management Research, Business and Management Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 7(1), pages 27-34, March.
    23. Ha, Jongrim & Kose, M. Ayhan & Ohnsorge, Franziska & Yilmazkuday, Hakan, 2023. "Understanding the global drivers of inflation: How important are oil prices?11We would like to thank Xuguang Simon Sheng, Guest Editor, and two anonymous reviewers for their detailed feedback. We also," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflation; Global VAR (GVAR); Monetary policy; Spillovers; Sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General

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