Financing Cost and Private Investment in Ghana

Abstract

This study has investigated empirically the effect of financing cost on private investment in Ghana, over the period 1970 to 2010. To this end, the variables employed were classified as cost factors (interest rate, exchange rate, inflation rate) and non-cost factors (public investment, output, credit availability, external debt) of private investment. The Johansen co-integration technique was used to estimate the long-run private investment function for Ghana. Also, the Error Correction Model was used to determine the short-run dynamics. The study finds that all the cost factors had negative and statistically significant impact on private investment in Ghana, in the long-run. On the other hand, in the long-run, the non-cost factors impacted positively on private investment in Ghana, but external debt had an adverse effect. It also, finds that all the variables used, co-integrated with private investment in the long-run. This study provides original evidence that high cost of financing is associated with low private sector participation in investment activities in Ghana. Accordingly, the study recommends among others that long term policies should be directed towards cost control and macroeconomic stabilization in order to boost private investment activities or programs in developing nations particularly, Ghana.