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Productivity effects of higher education human capital in selected countries of Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

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  • Koye Gerry Bokana

    (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban, South Africa)

  • Gbenga Wilfred Akinola

    (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban, South Africa)

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the productivity effects of higher education enrolment (HEE), higher education output (HEO) and the associated productivity gap (GP) on selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the period between 1981 and 2014. It was hypothesized in the study that HEE and HEO had statistically significant positive impact on productivity in the selected sub-Saharan Africa countries over the stated period. Fixed effect Least Square Dummy Variable (LSDV) and a robust version of System Generalized Methods of Moment (SYSGMM) were adopted as model estimating techniques. Results from the LSDV model indicated that HEE had no statistically significant positive impact on productivity growth in the twenty-one SSA countries. This non-significance was corrected in the dynamic model, but with negative effects on the growth rate of total factor productivity (TFP). The study further compared the worldwide technological frontier with those of the SSA countries under investigation and discovered that countries like Gabon, Mauritius and Swaziland ranked high, while Burundi needs to improve on its productivity determinants. The major conclusion of this study is therefore that higher education human capital should be supported with strong policy implementation, as this can have a positive impact on productivity growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Koye Gerry Bokana & Gbenga Wilfred Akinola, 2017. "Productivity effects of higher education human capital in selected countries of Sub-Saharan Africa," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 35(1), pages 173-198.
    • Handle: RePEc:rfe:zbefri:v:35:y:2017:i:1:p:173-198
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Atakan Durmaz & Hakan Pabuçcu, 2018. "The effect of government educational expenditure on labor productivity in Turkish manufacturing sector," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 36(2), pages 519-535.
    3. Josue Mbonigaba & Akinola Gbenga Wilfred, 2019. "Productivity effects of human capital: an empirical investigation of health and higher education in South Africa," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 37(1), pages 277-301.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    total factor productivity; Sub-Saharan Africa; human capital; higher education output; higher education enrolment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C50 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - General
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other

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