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The Role of Human Capital in FDI Inflows: A Panel Study on ECOWAS Countries

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  • Abdoul-kader SIDI GANDOU
  • Alper SÖNMEZ

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the role of human capital on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows toward ECOWAS countries (Economic Community of West African States). FDI is seen as one of the most important tools that promote economic growth, employment, technology transfer and currencies’ inflows in a country. In many African countries, despite reforms implemented, FDI inflows continue to be relatively low. Many studies evaluating the main determinants of FDI in African countries have revealed that one of the most important determinants is human capital. However, in many African countries, human capital is among the least developed in the world. Therefore, an empirical analysis is conducted to investigate the role of human capital in the inflows of FDI of ECOWAS countries. For this purpose, a panel data is used for the fourteen members of ECOWAS countries over the period 1991-2015 where human capital is proxied by both adult literacy rate and degree of freedom. The empirical findings revealed that the degree of freedom is the main proxy for the human capital while the adult literacy rate is not statistically significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdoul-kader SIDI GANDOU & Alper SÖNMEZ, 2022. "The Role of Human Capital in FDI Inflows: A Panel Study on ECOWAS Countries," Fiscaoeconomia, Tubitak Ulakbim JournalPark (Dergipark), issue 3.
    • Handle: RePEc:fis:journl:220319
    DOI: 10.25295/fsecon.1126129
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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