The Impact of the Political Environment (Stability/Instability) and Food Security/Insecurity on the Economic Growth Performance of African Countries: A panel Study

M. A. Mahmoud, Ali; Ghazi Alghabbabsheh, Tareg

doi:10.21608/sjsc.2024.279385.1440

The Impact of the Political Environment (Stability/Instability) and Food Security/Insecurity on the Economic Growth Performance of African Countries: A panel Study

نوع المستند : المقالة الأصلية

المؤلفون

¹ Department of Economics, Beni-Suef University, Egypt

² Department of Economics, Business School, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan

10.21608/sjsc.2024.279385.1440

المستخلص

This empirical study aims to examine the impact of the political environment and nutritional status on the economic growth of low and middle-income African countries, as well as their interactions. Using a panel analytic estimation methodology on a sample of 37 countries over the 2003-2016 period, the study finds that political stability, measured by the absence of violence/terrorism, democratization score, and durability of political regimes, has a statistically significant positive effect on the per capita real GDP growth. The study also constructs indices for food security and insecurity using various covariates, and finds that adequate nutrition, including food availability, accessibility, sustainability and utilization, have a statistically positive impact on economic growth. Additionally, the study highlights the coexistence effect of the political environment and nutrition indicators, which could either magnify or restrain their independent effects on the per capita real GDP growth rate. The study's findings provide insights into the importance of political stability and adequate nutrition in promoting economic growth in low and middle-income African countries.

الكلمات الرئيسية