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Financial development and entrepreneurship: insights from Africa

Author

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  • Folorunsho M. Ajide
  • Titus Ayobami Ojeyinka

Abstract

Purpose - One of the main obstacles to the flourishment of African entrepreneurship is financial constraint. Existing studies on the nexus between entrepreneurship and financial development are inconclusive, while the position of African economies remains unknown. The purpose of this paper is to empirically study the impact of financial development on entrepreneurship in Africa. Design/methodology/approach - This study utilizes data of 20 selected countries in Africa over a period of 2006–2017. International Monetary Fund (IMF) data on broad-based financial development were combined with World Bank Entrepreneurship database. This study uses system generalized methods of moments (system GMM) technique and the recently developed dynamic panel threshold based on dynamic panel GMM. Findings - The following findings emerged: financial development does not spur entrepreneurship in Africa; there is a threshold at which financial development improves the level of African entrepreneurship; and the tendency of financial development to improve the level of entrepreneurship is conditioned on conducive business regulation and strong institutional quality at a specific threshold value. Originality/value - This is one of the few studies that examines the impact of financial development on entrepreneurship in Africa. This study shows that the financial development relies on the effectiveness of regulatory environment to extend loan and other financial services to new firm entrants. In addition, the results of this study reveal that the assumption of linearity in the nexus between finance and entrepreneurship is not tenable for the case of Africa. Therefore, policymakers should keep on developing African financial system to accelerate the pace of entrepreneurship development.

Suggested Citation

  • Folorunsho M. Ajide & Titus Ayobami Ojeyinka, 2022. "Financial development and entrepreneurship: insights from Africa," Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(5), pages 596-617, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jfrcpp:jfrc-09-2021-0079
    DOI: 10.1108/JFRC-09-2021-0079
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Noah Afees O. & David Oladipo O., 2025. "Exploring the Role of Financial Development in Fostering Entrepreneurship in African Countries," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 35(4), pages 27-50.
    2. Syeda Tayyaba Ijaz, 2024. "Impression management strategies, entrepreneurial reputation, and financial resource acquisition: an empirical study in entrepreneurship," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Folorunsho M. Ajide & Sodiq Abiodun Oladipupo & Babatunde Wasiu Dauda & Festus Gyamfi Baah, 2026. "On FDI-Entrepreneurship Nexus in Africa: Do Economic Freedom and Technological Innovations Make Any Difference?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 17(2), pages 5312-5349, April.
    4. Elouaourti, Zakaria & Ibourk, Aomar, 2024. "Empowering African entrepreneurs: The crucial role of financial inclusion in mediating the relationship between contextual factors and entrepreneurial willingness," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    5. Michael Appiah & Emmanuel Baffour Gyau & Daniel Adu, 2026. "Can AI technology innovation promote national entrepreneurship development? Exploring the role of financial development," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    6. Oluwayemisi Kadijat Adeleke & Oluwadarasimi Omidele & Romanus Osabohien, 2026. "Financial development, entrepreneurship and labour market inclusiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 6(5), pages 1-26, May.
    7. Folorunsho M. Ajide & Titus Ayobami Ojeyinka & Abdulazeez Bunmi Egbewole & Reon Matemane, 2025. "Do less harm than good? Analyzing the effects of anti-money laundering regulations on income inequality in developing economies," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(3), pages 553-572, September.
    8. Folorunsho M. Ajide & Titus Ayobami Ojeyinka, 2024. "Benefit or burden? An exploratory analysis of the impact of anti‐money laundering regulations on sustainable development in developing economies," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 2417-2434, June.
    9. Mohammed Gbanja Abdulai & Stanley Kojo Dary & Paul Bata Domanban, 2025. "Financial development and entrepreneurial dynamics: a quantile-based analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    10. Özlem Karadağ Ak & Şenol Babuşçu & Adalet Hazar, 2025. "Does Banking Competition Enhance or Mitigate Risk? New Evidence from OECD Countries," Journal of Research in Economics, Politics & Finance, Ersan ERSOY, vol. 10(3), pages 926-948.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • N27 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - Africa; Oceania

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