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Financial Access, Governance and the Persistence of Inequality in Africa: Mechanisms and Policy instruments

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  • Vanessa S. Tchamyou

    (Yaounde, Cameroon)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate policy instruments by which the persistence of inequality is affected through financial development channels in 48 African countries for the period 1996 – 2014. Financial dynamic channels of depth (money supply and liquid liabilities), efficiency (at banking and financial system levels), activity (from banking and financial system perspectives) and stability are used. Political (“voice and accountability” and political stability), economic (government effectiveness and regulation quality) and institutional (rule of law and corruption-control) governance policy instruments are also involved. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM). The results show that financial depth and financial stability are the best channels of reducing inequality. Moreover, the relevance of these financial channels is significantly apparent when policy instruments are exclusively governance variables. The comparative relevance of governance dynamics in the persistence of inequality is discussed. The study responds to two recent policy and scholarly challenges, notably: the persistence of inequality in Africa and the relevance of governance in addressing income inequality by means of financial access.

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  • Vanessa S. Tchamyou, 2020. "Financial Access, Governance and the Persistence of Inequality in Africa: Mechanisms and Policy instruments," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 20/027, African Governance and Development Institute..
    • Handle: RePEc:agd:wpaper:20/027
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Finance; Governance; Inequality; Modelling; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • C50 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - General
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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