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Human Capital and Economic Growth: Pakistan, 1960-2003

Author

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  • Qaisar Abbas

    (Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan & Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, UK.)

  • James Foreman-Peck

    (Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University.)

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between human capital and economic growth in Pakistan with aggregate time series data. Estimated with the Johansen (1991) approach, the fitted model indicates a critical role for human capital in boosting the economy’s capacity to absorb world technical progress. Much higher returns, including spillovers, to secondary schooling in Pakistan than in OECD economies is consistent with very substantial education under-investment in Pakistan. Similarly, extremely large returns to health spending compare very favorably with industrial investment. Human capital is estimated to have accounted for just under one-fifth of the increase in Pakistan’s GDP per head. Since the 1990s, the impact of deficient human capital policies is shown by the negative contribution to economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Qaisar Abbas & James Foreman-Peck, 2008. "Human Capital and Economic Growth: Pakistan, 1960-2003," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 13(1), pages 1-27, Jan-Jun.
  • Handle: RePEc:lje:journl:v:13:y:2008:i:1:p:1-27
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    Cited by:

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    2. Faisal Sultan Qadri, Faisal & Dr. Abdul Waheed, Waheed, 2011. "Human Capital and Economic Growth: Time Series Evidence from Pakistan," MPRA Paper 30654, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Shahriyar Mukhtarov & Jeyhun I. Mikayilov & Sugra Humbatova & Vugar Muradov, 2020. "Do High Oil Prices Obstruct the Transition to Renewable Energy Consumption?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Audi, Marc & Ali, Amjad, 2017. "Socio-Economic Development, Demographic Changes and Total Labor Productivity in Pakistan: A Co-Integrational and Decomposition Analysis," MPRA Paper 77538, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Habibi, Fateh & Zabardast, Mohamad Amjad, 2020. "Digitalization, education and economic growth: A comparative analysis of Middle East and OECD countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    6. Ibrahim, Taofik, 2016. "Human Capital-Growth nexus: the role of Government Spending on Education and Health in Nigeria," MPRA Paper 73712, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Rimsha Javed, 2021. "Nexus Between Economic Growth, Health, and Education in Pakistan: An ARDL Bound Testing Approach," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 11(6), pages 56-65.
    8. mashkoor, Aasim & ahmed, Ovais, 2015. "Theory of Economic Development (Pyramids of Economic Development)," MPRA Paper 63370, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Shazia Kousar & Farhan Ahmed & Muhammad Afzal & Juan E. Trinidad Segovia, 2023. "Is government spending in the education and health sector necessary for human capital development?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Mussarat Khan, 2016. "Contribution of female human capital in economic growth: an empirical analysis of Pakistan (1972–2012)," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 709-728, March.
    11. Mashkoor, Aasim & Ahmed, Ovais, 2015. "Theory of Economic Development (Secondary Stage)," MPRA Paper 63660, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Suleman Sarwar & Dalia Streimikiene & Rida Waheed & Zouheir Mighri, 2021. "Revisiting the empirical relationship among the main targets of sustainable development: Growth, education, health and carbon emissions," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 419-440, March.
    13. Ahmed, Ovais & Mashkoor, Aasim, 2015. "Theory of Economic Development (Pyramids of Development)," MPRA Paper 70828, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 19 Apr 2016.
    14. Sultan, Faisal & Tehseen, Syed & Arif, Imtiaz, 2009. "Human Capital and Economic Growth: The Quest for the Most Relevant Level of Education in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 59181, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Masood Ahmed Qazi & Syed Ammad, 2021. "Public investment efficiency and sectoral economic growth in Pakistan," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(3), pages 450-470, May.
    16. T. Vinayagathasan & S. Vijesandiran, 2015. "Dynamic Relationship between Human Capital and Economic Growth in Sri Lanka: A Co-Integration Analysis," Growth, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 2(2), pages 20-29.
    17. Ejiro U. Osiobe, 2019. "A Literature Review of Human Capital and Economic Growth," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 9(4), pages 179-196, December.
    18. Yassine Jaber & Ismail Kabouri & Mohamed Bouzahzah & Ibourk Aomar & Mohamed Karim, 2022. "Economic growth and education in Morocco: Cointegration and Toda Yamamoto Granger Causality," Post-Print hal-03694377, HAL.
    19. Nadia Hanif & Noman Arshed, 2016. "Relationship between School Education and Economic Growth: SAARC Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 6(1), pages 294-300.
    20. Jalil, Abdul & Idrees, Muhammad, 2013. "Modeling the impact of education on the economic growth: Evidence from aggregated and disaggregated time series data of Pakistan," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 383-388.
    21. Zi Wen Vivien Wong & Fanyu Chen & Siong Hook Law & Normaz Wana Ismail, 2022. "The Effects Of Rent Seeking Activities On Economic Growth In Middle-Income Countries," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 25(2), pages 215-234, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human Capital; Economic Growth; Cointegration; Pakistan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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