IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ris/ilojep/0044.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Poverty And Inequality: The Challenges To Sustainable Development In Nigeria

Author

Listed:

Abstract

Nigeria is positioned 160th out of 205 countries in the 2020 sustainable development index, having scored 49.28. The nation ranked 159th out of 185 countries surveyed in 2019. Several factors are responsible for such poor performance. However, the role of poverty and inequality cannot be explained away. High poverty and inequality in their various forms constitute drags on sustainable development because development has always been a problem in an unequal and poverty-driven society. This study examines poverty and inequality as major challenges to the attainment of sustainable development in Nigeria, using stylized facts and review of related literature. It argues that the current state of poverty and inequality in Nigeria is capable of preventing sustainable development. It is therefore recommended that reducing poverty and various forms of inequalities through the appropriate policy measures will enhance sustainable development in the country. Such policies should include investment in health and education, with priority given to the girl-child education. There should be genuine commitment to fighting corruption in the public and private sectors. The economy should be diversified away from primary-product dominated one to industrial and services economy. Women should also be given free chance to participate in politics and labour market while the practice of street begging (almajiri) by children and young persons in certain part of the country should be prohibited.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Dauda, Rasaki & Joel Oyeleke, Olusola, 2021. "Poverty And Inequality: The Challenges To Sustainable Development In Nigeria," Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, vol. 8(2), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:ilojep:0044
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.ijep.org/issues/volume8issue82021/v2/DaudaandOyeleke2021.pdf
    File Function: Full text
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Berg, Andrew & Ostry, Jonathan D. & Zettelmeyer, Jeromin, 2012. "What makes growth sustained?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(2), pages 149-166.
    2. Arndt, Channing & McKay, Andy & Tarp, Finn (ed.), 2016. "Growth and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198744795.
    3. Fabio Clementi & Michele Fabiani & Vasco Molini, 2019. "The Devil is in the Detail: Growth, Inequality and Poverty Reduction in Africa in the Last Two Decades," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 28(4), pages 408-434.
    4. Tam NguyenHuu & Jörg Schwiebert, 2019. "China’s role in mitigating poverty and inequality in Africa: an empirical query," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 645-669, October.
    5. Michael Kumhof & Romain Rancière & Pablo Winant, 2015. "Inequality, Leverage, and Crises," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(3), pages 1217-1245, March.
    6. repec:hal:pseose:halshs-01207208 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. AfDB AfDB, . "African Development Report 2015 - Growth, Poverty and Inequality Nexus: Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Development," African Development Report, African Development Bank, number 2342, August.
    8. Evelyn Nwamaka Osaretin Ogbeide & David Onyinyechi Agu, 2015. "Poverty and Income Inequality in Nigeria: Any Causality?," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 5(3), pages 439-452, March.
    9. Hongyi Li & Heng‐fu Zou, 1998. "Income Inequality is not Harmful for Growth: Theory and Evidence," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(3), pages 318-334, October.
    10. Fosu, Augustin Kwasi, 2017. "Growth, inequality, and poverty reduction in developing countries: Recent global evidence," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 306-336.
    11. Michael Kumhof & Romain Rancière & Pablo Winant, 2015. "Inequality, Leverage, and Crises," Post-Print halshs-01511070, HAL.
    12. Godstime Osekhebhen Eigbiremolen & Jonathan Emenike Ogbuabor, 2018. "Measurement and Determinants of Food Poverty: A Dynamic Analysis of Nigeria's First Panel Survey Data," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 30(4), pages 423-433, December.
    13. God'stime Osekhebhen Eigbiremolen, 2018. "Poverty Trends and Poverty Dynamics: Analysis of Nigerian's first†ever National Panel Survey Data," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 691-706, May.
    14. Dollar, David & Kraay, Aart, 2002. "Growth Is Good for the Poor," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 195-225, September.
    15. T. O. Akinbobola & M. O. O. Saibu, 2004. "Income inequality, unemployment, and poverty in Nigeria: a vector autoregressive approach," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(3), pages 175-183.
    16. Andrew G. Berg & Jonathan D. Ostry, 2017. "Inequality and Unsustainable Growth: Two Sides of the Same Coin?," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 65(4), pages 792-815, November.
    17. Robert J. Barro, 1999. "Inequality, Growth, and Investment," NBER Working Papers 7038, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    18. Ravallion, Martin, 1997. "Good and bad growth: The human development reports," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 631-638, May.
    19. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2015. "Growth, Inequality and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Progress in a Global Context," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 44-59, March.
    20. Olu Ajakaiye & Afeikhena T. Jerome & Olanrewaju Olaniyan & Kristi Mahrt & Olufunke A. Alaba, 2015. "Spatial and temporal multidimensional poverty in Nigeria," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2015-132, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    21. Frances Stewart, 2014. "Sustainability and Inequality," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 57(3-4), pages 344-361, December.
    22. Adeleke Gabriel, Aremo & Sule, Teliat Abiodun, 2020. "Causal Nexus among Fiscal Policy, Economic Growth and Income Inequality in SubSaharan African Countries (1995-2016)," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 8(01), January.
    23. repec:bla:rdevec:v:2:y:1998:i:3:p:318-34 is not listed on IDEAS
    24. Evelyn Nwamaka Osaretin Ogbeide & David Onyinyechi Agu, 2015. "Poverty and Income Inequality in Nigeria: Any Causality?," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 5(3), pages 439-452.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Musa Jeremiah Adu'a & Dr. Oluwatosin Olushola & Dr. Chris AC-Ogbonna, 2025. "The Effect of Poverty, Income and Gender Inequality on Economic Growth in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(1), pages 508-521, January.
    2. Mager, Gregor & Faße, Anja, 2021. "The Contribution of Smallholders´ Livelihood Activities on Income Inequality and Poverty: Case Study from Rural Tanzania," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315405, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Ademola Obafemi Young, 2019. "Growth Impacts of Income Inequality: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(3), pages 226-262, December.
    4. Jan Siegmeier & Linus Mattauch & Max Franks & David Klenert & Anselm Schultes & Ottmar Edenhofer, 2015. "A Public Finance Perspective on Climate Policy: Six Interactions That May Enhance Welfare," Working Papers 2015.31, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    5. Temilola Osinubi, Tolulope, 2020. "The Role Of Income Inequality In The Globalisation-Poverty Nexus: Empirical Evidence From Mint Countries," Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, vol. 7(2), pages 67-89, June.
    6. Mcknight, Abigail, 2019. "Understanding the relationship between poverty, inequality and growth: a review of existing evidence," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103458, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Abigail McKnight, 2019. "Understanding the relationship between poverty, inequality and growth: a review of existing evidence," CASE Papers /216, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    8. Shinhye Chang & Rangan Gupta & Stephen M. Miller, 2018. "Causality Between Per Capita Real GDP and Income Inequality in the U.S.: Evidence from a Wavelet Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 269-289, January.
    9. Dirk Bezemer & Anna Samarina, 2019. "Debt shift, financial development and income inequality," DNB Working Papers 646, Netherlands Central Bank, Research Department.
    10. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2023. "Do unilateral trade preferences help reduce poverty in beneficiary countries?," International Journal of Economic Policy Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 249-288, February.
    11. Gravier-Rymaszewska, Joanna & Tyrowicz, Joanna & Kochanowicz, Jacek, 2010. "Intra-provincial inequalities and economic growth in China," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 237-258, September.
    12. Boris Cournède & Oliver Denk & Peter Hoeller, 2015. "Finance and Inclusive Growth," OECD Economic Policy Papers 14, OECD Publishing.
    13. Chu, Lan Khanh & Hoang, Dung Phuong, 2020. "How does economic complexity influence income inequality? New evidence from international data," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 44-57.
    14. Ciminelli, Gabriele & Ernst, Ekkehard & Merola, Rossana & Giuliodori, Massimo, 2019. "The composition effects of tax-based consolidation on income inequality," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 107-124.
    15. Simplice A. Asongu & Ndemaze Asongu, 2018. "Comparative determinants of quality of growth in developing countries," International Journal of Happiness and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(1), pages 65-89.
    16. Andrea Colciago & Anna Samarina & Jakob de Haan, 2019. "Central Bank Policies And Income And Wealth Inequality: A Survey," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 1199-1231, September.
    17. Fosu, Augustin Kwasi, 2017. "Growth, inequality, and poverty reduction in developing countries: Recent global evidence," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 306-336.
    18. Jonathan D. Ostry & Andrew Berg & Charalambos G. Tsangarides, 2014. "Redistribución, desigualdad y crecimiento," Revista de Economía Institucional, Universidad Externado de Colombia - Facultad de Economía, vol. 16(30), pages 53-81, January-J.
    19. Asongu, Simplice A. & Nwachukwu, Jacinta C., 2017. "Quality of Growth Empirics: Comparative gaps, benchmarking and policy syndromes," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 861-882.
    20. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "Are Africans happy? 'Return to laughter' in times of war, famine and misery," MPRA Paper 112940, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Poverty; Inequality; Sustainable Development; Nigeria;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ris:ilojep:0044. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Daniel Akanbi (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/deilong.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.