Evolving economic growth via the human capital development paradigm: Evidence from the Francophone West-African economies

Abstract

Abstract. This research examined the impact of Human Capital Development (HCD) on economic growth among the ten French-Speaking West African Countries. In carrying out the empirical research, data were collected on human capital development and growth indices from countries in the sub region and panel data analysis was conducted. The period of analysis covered was between 1995 and 2017. Panel data analysis was used in capturing the relationship between human capital development and economic growth in the West Africa sub region. The endogeneity problem often associated with panel data analysis was accounted for through the use of the Generalized Method of Moments. From the Arellano-bond dynamic panel estimation, it revealed that secondary school levers (SSE6), those who enrolled for a minimum of four years at the tertiary school level (TSE4) and gross capital formation (GCF) were statistically significant in determining economic growth among the Francophone countries in West Africa. The Arellano-Bond dynamic panel results show the acceptance of the null hypotheses, which indicate that there is no significant relationship between economic growth and secondary school and tertiary school enrolment in Francophone West African sub region. From the result, emphasis should be devoted to vocational and functional technical education as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and increase in government expenditure on health in the French-speaking West Africa sub region. Keywords. Human capital development, ICT, Economic growth, Generalized methods of moments, Variance inflation factor. JEL. F43, J24, O11.