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on Africa |
| By: | Sylvain B. Ngassam (Dschang, Cameroon); Simplice A. Asongu (Johannesburg, South Africa); Gildas Tiwang Ngueuleweu (Dschang, Cameroon) |
| Abstract: | This research empirically analyzes the effect of social media on fragility. It goes beyond political grounds which oppose techno-optimistic to techno-pessimistic perceptions of the impact of social media to analyze its consequences on global, Security fragility, economic and social fragilities. The research uses annual data from a panel of 47 African countries for the period 2000–2018. Results reveal that the use of social media by the public to organize offline political actions has no outcome on global fragility. However, its use by elites for the same end accentuates global state fragility. This operates through Security and political fragilities. Fragility is negatively associated with higher civil society participation, education and democracy. The use of social media to organize offline political actions either by people or by elites in the context of higher civil society participation reduces fragility, while its use either by people or by elites in the context of higher educational level accentuates state fragility. The use of social media to organize offline political actions by people in the context of democracy boosts fragility but its use by elites in the same framework reduces fragility. There is a need to sensitize people, especially elites in Africa on the threats and opportunities of social media. There is also a necessity to develop a dynamic, well-educated and well-organized civil society and population in order to better valorize the opportunities that social media represents. |
| Keywords: | Social media, state fragility, security fragility, political fragility, economic fragility and social fragility |
| JEL: | G20 O38 O40 O55 P37 |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agd:wpaper:24/034 |
| By: | Ackah, Charles; Hanley, Aoife; Hecker, Lars; Kodom, Michael |
| Abstract: | Our analysis of over 500 Ghanaian firms sheds light, for the first time, on how certain firms managed to extract value from mobile money. Our regressions point to the usefulness of this form of cashless payments in stabilizing sales during the COVID pandemic. Perhaps the most important message from our analysis is the recognition that the benefits from mobile money extend beyond its purpose as a tool for transacting cashless payments. We reveal that firms using these additional tools supported by MoMo (e.g. for planning or saving purposes) report higher sales resilience, all things equal. Our findings appear to echo the literature on private householders (e.g. Jack and Suri, 2014). However, while the latter report a positive effect due to remittances, our finding is more likely driven by enhanced ability of businesses to streamline their planning and sales. |
| Keywords: | Mobile Money, Africa, Firm, Urbanization |
| JEL: | G23 G21 L25 O14 O18 O33 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:kcgwps:303046 |
| By: | Solomon Tessema Memirie (Addis Center for Ethics and Priority Setting, Addis Ababa University); Anastassia Demeshko (Center for Global Development); Mizan Habtemichael (Addis Center for Ethics and Priority Setting, Addis Ababa University); Tesfaye Mesele (Strategic Affairs Office, Federal Ministry of Health – Ethiopia); Amanuel Haileselassie (Strategic Affairs Office, Federal Ministry of Health – Ethiopia); Pete Baker (Center for Global Development); Ole F. Norheim (Bergen Center for Ethics and Priority Setting, University of Bergen); Tom Drake (Center for Global Development) |
| Abstract: | Recent years have seen health aid play a crucial role in improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, though challenges remain in optimizing the allocation and impact of these resources. We propose a framework for global health financing that advocates for aid to complement domestic resources by funding high-value interventions, enabling governments to focus on essential services. A case study in Ethiopia explored the implications of this “New Compact” approach, analyzing Ethiopia’s essential health services package and prioritizing interventions based on cost-effectiveness. By applying different financing scenarios, the study found that current health financing practices in Ethiopia are inefficient, failing to align resources with the most cost-effective interventions, thereby undermining goals for equitable health service delivery and Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The study suggests that adopting the full New Compact approach, where the Ethiopian government finances top priority health interventions while donor aid extends coverage to additional high-value services, could significantly enhance health outcomes, potentially increasing healthy life years (HLYs) by 15 percent. However, full implementation faces practical challenges, leading to the development of a partial New Compact scenario. This more realistic model retains most of the health gains by allowing some donors to adopt the new financing strategy while others maintain existing commitments, showing that even incremental shifts toward this approach can yield substantial benefits. The study emphasizes the importance of aligning donor aid with country priorities and demonstrates that even partial realignment can drive significant improvements in health service delivery and outcomes, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and resilient health financing system. |
| Date: | 2024–09–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cgd:ppaper:337 |
| By: | Umar Isah, Yahaya |
| Abstract: | The study investigates effect of monetary policy variables on performance of prices of stock in Nigeria. The study covered the period 1986 –2022. Data were generated from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, 2023 edition. The method of data analyses used are ARDL technique as All Share Index (ASI) was used to measure stock price, while explanatory variables included inflation rate (INF), Broad money supply (M2), Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) and Real exchange rate (REXR). The ARDL bound test result indicates a long run association between monetary policy variables and stock prices in Nigeria. The long run estimates shows that only real exchange rate has significant effect on stock prices further findings reveal that monetary policy rate has significant impact on prices in stock market. The findings inform the conclusion that most monetary policy variables do not create necessary directions in market prices in Nigeria and recommends that the Nigerian stock market cannot yet be regarded as good policy monetary policy channel in Nigeria as the market is yet to absorb monetary policy impulses to an extent that monetary policy tools and instruments may significantly influence its direction and development. |
| Keywords: | Monetary policy; stock market prices; Exchange rate; Money supply; ARDL |
| JEL: | G18 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:122083 |
| By: | Guannan Miao; Fons Strik |
| Abstract: | The new way of looking at international trade not by measuring the face value of a product but by where the production takes place has changed the way we understand international trade. It also changes the way we assess how sophisticated a countrys export basket is. This paper uses the latest OECD Trade in Value Added database to re-evaluate cross-country export sophistication as defined in Hausmann et al. (2007). It finds that the gap between the export sophistication of high-income and low-income countries is wider from a value-added perspective. The global financial crisis (GFC) marked a fundamental shift in the ability of low-income countries to catch up: before the GFC, the export sophistication gap between high-income and low-income countries narrowed, but after the GFC export sophistication in high-income countries outgrew export sophistication in low-income countries. A decomposition analysis shows that these trends are underpinned by the basket effect, which measures the extent to which changes in a countrys export sophistication are caused by changes in its own export basket. The paper also finds that higher export sophistication positively affects future economic growth, even more so when measuring export sophistication from a value-added perspective. In the early 2000s, South Africa performed relatively well in value-added export sophistication but started to lag behind its peers after the GFC, with the basket effect dragging on export sophistication growth. Nevertheless, South Africa's key strategic industries, such as motor vehicles and chemicals, appear relatively sophisticated. |
| Date: | 2024–10–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rbz:wpaper:11066 |