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Implications of Climate-Related Factors on Living Standards: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Boris O. K. Lokonon

    (Université de Parakou, Benin)

  • Aly A. Mbaye

    (Université Cheikh Anta Diop Dakar, Senegal)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of climate-related factors (rainfall, temperature, floods, and droughts) on living standards through human development and its dimensions (life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region characterized by lower economic and human development. The data used span from 1996 to 2015. The findings suggest that there is an inverted U-shape relationship between human development and rainfall in non-Sahel countries. Temperature influences positively human development in non-Sahel countries, while a U-shape effect is found for Sahel countries. Droughts affect positively human development in Sahel countries. For the life expectancy at birth, there is an inverted U-shape association with rainfall in SSA countries. Floods influence positively the life expectancy at birth in non-Sahel countries, and droughts affect it positively in Sahel countries. Moreover, the findings indicate that in Sahel countries rainfall and temperature have an inverted U-shape and a U-shape effect on the expected years of schooling, respectively. Furthermore, floods affect positively the expected years of schooling in Sahel countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Boris O. K. Lokonon & Aly A. Mbaye, 2019. "Implications of Climate-Related Factors on Living Standards: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(2), pages 1404-1417.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-18-00569
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Boris O. K. Lokonon, 2022. "Multiple shocks and households’ choice of coping strategies in Benin: The relative importance of climate shocks," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(4), pages 949-964, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Climate; Climate change; Human development; Living standards; Sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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