Government Expenditure and Economic Growth in Nigeria: Aggregate Level Analysis using the Bound Test Approach (Published)
Economists have divergent views on the relationship between public expenditure and economic growth. The pro-market viewpoint argues that large government expenditure is a source of economic instability and has negative effect on economic growth. The anti-market view, on the other hand, stresses positive effect of government spending on economic growth. Stimulated by unresolved debates on the precise relationship between government spending and economic growth, and continuous growth in government spending, this study employed modified and extended aggregate production model to examine the effects of government expenditure at its’ aggregate level on economic growth in Nigeria for the period (1981-2018) using bound test (ARDL) approach. The co-integration result indicates the existence of long-run relationship between total government expenditure (LTGE) and economic growth in Nigeria. ARDL results show that total government expenditure (LTGE) impacted positively on economic growth in Nigeria in line with Keynesian theory. The granger causality test result indicates the existence of uni-directional causal relationship from LGDP to LTGE for the observed period, in line with Wagner’s theory. It is recommended that there should be proper utilization of public fund in the provision of security and critical infrastructure especially electricity supply and road infrastructure which are precursors to effective economic performance. Public fund should be properly managed to ensure accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility in carrying out public assignment. It is believed that if corruption is tackled in the country, more public fund will be freed for development and public expenditure would impact more on the economic performance, hence, the fight against corruption in the country should be frontally confronted. Public institutions charged with the responsibility of handling corruption matters in the country should be overhauled and strengthen to ensure timely and proper handling of corruption matters.
Citation: Udo N. Ekpo , Ekere J. Daniel and Inibeghe M. Okon (2022) Government Expenditure and Economic Growth in Nigeria: Aggregate Level Analysis using the Bound Test Approach, International Journal of Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol.10, No.1, pp.1-20
Keywords: Bound Test Approach, Government Expenditure, Keynesian economic theory, Peacock and Wiseman Displacement theory, Wagner’s theory, economic growth
The Relationship between Government Expenditure, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria (Published)
This study examines the relationship between government expenditure, economic growth and poverty reduction in Nigeria using time series data over the period 1980-2013. Employing modern time series econometric techniques such as unit root tests, bound test co-integration approach and error correction techniques within an ARDL framework which yields more robust estimates.It is found that government spending affect economic growth positively and significantly by increasing real private investment and fixed capital accumulation which increase capital accumulation, reduction in current account deficit, external debt burden and improve education/skills of the households by improving human capital. Findings emerge from this study that government expenditure has significant short run impact on poverty reductions in its lag form in which it might be examined by the role of fiscal policy in alleviating poverty of current year in Nigeria.The study suggested policies the role of government should be extended to ensure the magnitude and the quality of private investment as high as possible.
Keywords: ARDL Analysis, Government Expenditure, Poverty Reduction, economic growth