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A frican Development: Beyond Income Convergence
Author(s) -
Asongu Simplice
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
south african journal of economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.502
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1813-6982
pISSN - 0038-2280
DOI - 10.1111/saje.12021
Subject(s) - convergence (economics) , gross domestic product , economics , per capita , per capita income , economic inequality , inequality , intervention (counseling) , development economics , public economics , economic growth , sociology , psychology , mathematical analysis , population , demography , mathematics , psychiatry
In examining some big questions on A frican development, I provide evidence that the dynamics of some development indicators could support both endogenous and neoclassical growth theories in the convergence debate. This paper investigates convergence in real per capita gross domestic product and inequality‐adjusted human development in 38 A frican countries, disaggregated into 10 homogenous panels based on regions ( S ub‐ S aharan and N orth A frica), income levels (low, middle, lower middle and upper middle), legal origins ( E nglish common law and F rench civil law) and religious dominations ( C hristianity and I slam). The main finding is that the income component of the H uman Development I ndex moves slower than others in the convergence process, and thus requires a more focused policy intervention. As a policy implication, looking beyond income convergence can provide a concrete agenda for development involving all aspects of economic, institutional and social life.