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Economic Growth and Poverty in Cameroon: the role of Employment

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  • Talla Fokam, Dieu Ne Dort
  • Fotso Koyeu, Fourier Prevost
  • Ningaye, Paul

Abstract

This study investigates empirically the effect of employment in the transmission of economic growth to poverty change in Cameroon. Using data covering the period 1991 to 2017. We estimate two models: the employment intensity of growth model of Kapsos; and the Loayza and Raddatz model, which assesses the impact of sectoral employment intensity of economic growth to the change in poverty. Analyses highlight two main results. First, economic growth positively affects employment and negatively affects poverty rates. Second, the transmission of economic growth through employment is not effective in reducing poverty in Cameroon. These results show that in recent decades, economic growth has propelled the creation of employment in Cameroon. However, these employments, which are mostly precarious, generated by the informal sector, have not significantly reduced poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Talla Fokam, Dieu Ne Dort & Fotso Koyeu, Fourier Prevost & Ningaye, Paul, 2019. "Economic Growth and Poverty in Cameroon: the role of Employment," MPRA Paper 92254, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:92254
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic growth; poverty; employment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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