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Nutrition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: a causality test using panel data

Kolawole Ogundari (Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA)
Adebayo Aromolaran (Adekunle Ajasin University, Akunbgba-Akoko, Nigeria)

International Journal of Development Issues

ISSN: 1446-8956

Article publication date: 3 July 2017

398

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between nutrition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic panel causality test based on the Blundell-Bond’s system generalized methods-of-moment was used. To make efficient inference for the estimates, the authors check for the panel unit root and co-integration relationship amongst the variables.

Findings

The variables were found to be non-stationary at level, stationary after first difference and co-integrated. The results of the causality tests reveal evidence of long and short-run bidirectional causality between nutrition and economic growth, which implies that nutritional improvement is a cause and consequence of economic growth and vice versa.

Originality/value

This is the first study to consider causality between nutrition and economic growth in the region.

Keywords

Citation

Ogundari, K. and Aromolaran, A. (2017), "Nutrition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: a causality test using panel data", International Journal of Development Issues, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 174-189. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDI-12-2016-0076

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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