External Debt-Economic Growth Nexus: The Sierra Leonean Case (1973-2021)

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The study investigates the nexus between external debt and economic growth in Sierra Leone for the period spanning between 1973 and 2021. In many developing countries, huge external indebtedness has been seen as a strong break on the road to economic growth and development. Indeed, the study focuses on both external and internal factors that are responsible for the external debt problem in Sierra Leone. Data employed in this study are secondary and were collected from various sources including the Central Bank of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Finance. Key macroeconomic variables such as external debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, external debt service to export earnings ratio and terms of trade were specified in the model and tested for stationarity using unit root tests. The study also employed the ordinary least square (OLS) technique for the purpose of estimating the relevant parameters of the model. Various diagnostic tests are carried out to appraise the robustness of the estimated growth equation using appropriate econometric criteria. The study empirically reveals a negative nexus between external debt and economic growth in Sierra Leone for the period under study signifying that debt accumulation impacts adversely on the country’s long-run growth trajectory which confirms debt “overhang” problem in Sierra Leone. This is clearly evident in the coefficients of the variables representing debt as a ratio of GDP, debt service as a ratio of export earning and terms of trade. The study, therefore, proffers certain recommendations in line with the findings.