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Education, labour productivity and income inequality in Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Sharimakin A.

    (Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria)

  • Oseni M.S.

    (National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria)

  • Adegboye A.C.

    (Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria)

Abstract

This study examines the role of education and labour productivity on income inequality in Nigeria by considering both educational attainment and productivity growth over a period of time. A dynamic structure is devised for the analysis using data for the period 1981 to 2013. The cointegration and error correction methodology is adopted in the empirical analysis. It is shown that productivity has a stronger impact on inequality reduction than education. This implies that any policy that promotes education without the productive capacity of labour would not lead to reduction in inequality. It also suggests that policies of reducing income inequality in Nigeria should invariably incorporate productivity growth measures for such policies to be sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharimakin A. & Oseni M.S. & Adegboye A.C., 2015. "Education, labour productivity and income inequality in Nigeria," Annals of the University of Petrosani, Economics, University of Petrosani, Romania, vol. 15(1), pages 295-306.
    • Handle: RePEc:pet:annals:v:15:y:2015:i:1:p:295-306
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; workers’ productivity; income inequality; income distribution; Nigeria;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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