IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/aif/report/v9y2025i1p107-122.html

Corruption and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Insight from Sierra Leone

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed Aruna

    (University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, China.)

  • Moses Sesay

    (University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, China.)

Abstract

This study explores the impact of corruption on economic growth in Sierra Leone, a country grappling with post-conflict recovery and institutional challenges. Using time series secondary data from the World Development Indicators (1996–2024), the research applies econometric techniques, including the ARDL and SUR models, to analyze both short-term and long-term relationships between corruption indices and key economic indicators such as GDP. Stationarity tests ensure data reliability, and the models reveal that higher corruption levels significantly hinder economic growth by discouraging investment, distorting resource allocation, and undermining governance. The findings underscore the urgent need for strengthening institutional frameworks, implementing anti-corruption reforms, and enhancing governance to foster sustainable economic development. This study contributes empirical evidence to inform policymakers aiming to combat corruption and promote economic stability in Sierra Leone.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Aruna & Moses Sesay, 2025. "Corruption and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Insight from Sierra Leone," Journal of Scientific Reports, IJSAB International, vol. 9(1), pages 107-122.
    • Handle: RePEc:aif:report:v:9:y:2025:i:1:p:107-122
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ijsab.com/wp-content/uploads/1098.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.ijsab.com/jsr-volume-9-issue-1/8082
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Macrae, John, 1982. "Underdevelopment and the economics of corruption: A game theory approach," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 10(8), pages 677-687, August.
    2. Mo, Pak Hung, 2001. "Corruption and Economic Growth," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 66-79, March.
    3. Méon, Pierre-Guillaume & Weill, Laurent, 2010. "Is Corruption an Efficient Grease?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 244-259, March.
    4. Eleftherios Spyromitros & Minas Panagiotidis, 2022. "The impact of corruption on economic growth in developing countries and a comparative analysis of corruption measurement indicators," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 2129368-212, December.
    5. Sanjeev Gupta & Hamid Davoodi & Rosa Alonso-Terme, 2002. "Does corruption affect income inequality and poverty?," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 23-45, March.
    6. Aidt, Toke & Dutta, Jayasri & Sena, Vania, 2008. "Governance regimes, corruption and growth: Theory and evidence," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 195-220, June.
    7. Mikael Svensson, 2009. "Precautionary behavior and willingness to pay for a mortality risk reduction: Searching for the expected relationship," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 65-85, August.
    8. Del Monte, Alfredo & Papagni, Erasmo, 2001. "Public expenditure, corruption, and economic growth: the case of Italy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, March.
    9. Waliu Olawale Shittu & Sallahuddin Hassan & Muhammad Atif Nawaz, 2018. "The nexus between external debt, corruption and economic growth: evidence from five SSA countries," African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(3), pages 319-334, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alfredo Monte & Luca Pennacchio, 2020. "Corruption, Government Expenditure and Public Debt in OECD Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 62(4), pages 739-771, December.
    2. Alfredo Monte & Luca Pennacchio, 0. "Corruption, Government Expenditure and Public Debt in OECD Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 0, pages 1-33.
    3. Zakharov, Nikita, 2019. "Does corruption hinder investment? Evidence from Russian regions," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 39-61.
    4. Toke S. Aidt, 2011. "Corruption and Sustainable Development," Chapters, in: Susan Rose-Ackerman & Tina Søreide (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption, Volume Two, chapter 1, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Toke S. Aidt, 2009. "Corruption, institutions, and economic development," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 25(2), pages 271-291, Summer.
    6. Ahmed, Walid M.A., 2020. "Corruption and equity market performance: International comparative evidence," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    7. Gamze Kargin-Akkoc & Dilek Durusu-Ciftci, 2024. "The Interrelationship Between Corruption, Economic Growth, and Trade: Do They Grease or Sand Each Other’s Wheels?," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 22(4), pages 977-999, December.
    8. Yingying Shi, 2024. "Corruption, technical efficiency and total factor productivity growth: empirical evidence from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 1-24, December.
    9. Simplice A. Asongu & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2013. "Crime and conflicts in Africa: consequences of corruption?," European Economic Letters, European Economics Letters Group, vol. 2(2), pages 50-55.
    10. Cooray, Arusha & Dzhumashev, Ratbek & Schneider, Friedrich, 2017. "How Does Corruption Affect Public Debt? An Empirical Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 115-127.
    11. Bin Dong & Benno Torgler, 2010. "The Consequences of Corruption: Evidence from China," Working Papers 2010.73, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    12. Fhima, Fredj & Nouira, Ridha & Sekkat, Khalid, 2023. "How does corruption affect sustainable development? A threshold non-linear analysis," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 505-523.
    13. Cooray, Arusha & Dzhumashev, Ratbek, 2018. "The effect of corruption on labour market outcomes," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 207-218.
    14. Andrew Hodge & Sriram Shankar & D. S. Prasada Rao & Alan Duhs, 2011. "Exploring the Links Between Corruption and Growth," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(3), pages 474-490, August.
    15. Farzanegan, Mohammad Reza & Witthuhn, Stefan, 2017. "Corruption and political stability: Does the youth bulge matter?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 47-70.
    16. Simplice Asongu & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2016. "Fighting African conflicts and crimes: which governance tools matter?," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(5), pages 466-485, May.
    17. Dridi, Mohamed, 2013. "Corruption and Economic Growth: The Transmission Channels," MPRA Paper 47873, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Asiye Tutuncu & Yasar Bayraktar, 2024. "The effect of democracy and corruption paradox on economic growth: MINT countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1-25, August.
    19. Garcia Fortuny, Judit, 2014. "The Effects of Corruption and Seigniorage on Growth and Inflation," Working Papers 2072/246961, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Economics.
    20. Bin Dong & Benno Torgler, 2010. "The Consequences of Corruption: Evidence from China," Working Papers 2010.73, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:aif:report:v:9:y:2025:i:1:p:107-122. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Farjana Rahman (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.