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Greasing or sanding the wheels? Effect of corruption on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Muazu Ibrahim
  • Emmanuel Kumi
  • Thomas Yeboah

Abstract

Corruption is a pervasive challenge confronting the world economy more especially countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper investigates the effect of corruption on economic growth in the sub-region using data spanning 1998 to 2011. By employing the pooled estimated generalised least squares (EGLS) and two stage least squares (2SLS), we find that corruption is inimical to economic growth through its indirect effect on gross fixed capital formation and labour force. The results are not only robust to controlling for endogeneity using regional blocs of the countries as instruments in the 2SLS estimations but identifies government expenditure as additional pass-through effect of corruption on growth. Our findings suggest that for countries within the sub-region to achieve sustained economic growth, control of corruption must take precedence over the design and implementation of any macroeconomic policy. Campaign against corruption does not only improve on institutional quality but is by far growth-enhancing.

Suggested Citation

  • Muazu Ibrahim & Emmanuel Kumi & Thomas Yeboah, 2015. "Greasing or sanding the wheels? Effect of corruption on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa," African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(2), pages 157-173.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:4:y:2015:i:2:p:157-173
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ibrahim, Muazu & Alagidede, Paul, 2018. "Nonlinearities in financial development–economic growth nexus: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 95-104.
    2. Song, Chang-Qing & Chang, Chun-Ping & Gong, Qiang, 2021. "Economic growth, corruption, and financial development: Global evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 822-830.
    3. Blessing Katuka & Calvin Mudzingiri, 2023. "Impact of Output Gap, COVID-19, and Governance Quality on Fiscal Space in Sub-Saharan Africa," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Ibrahim, Muazu & Sare, Yakubu Awudu, 2018. "Determinants of financial development in Africa: How robust is the interactive effect of trade openness and human capital?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 18-26.
    5. Dokas, Ioannis & Panagiotidis, Minas & Papadamou, Stephanos & Spyromitros, Eleftherios, 2023. "Does innovation affect the impact of corruption on economic growth? International evidence," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1030-1054.
    6. Olufemi A. Aluko & Muazu Ibrahim, 2020. "Institutions and the financial development–economic growth nexus in sub‐Saharan Africa," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 49(3), September.
    7. Muazu Ibrahim & Paul Alagidede, 2018. "Nonlinearities in Financial Development–Economic Growth Nexus: Evidence from sub–Saharan Africa (SSA)," Working Papers 728, Economic Research Southern Africa.
    8. Henri Atanga Ondoa & Arthur M. Seabrook, 2022. "Governance and financial development: Evidence from a global sample of 120 countries," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(3), pages 3405-3420, July.

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