IMPACT OF DOMESTIC DEBT ON PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA (2000-2019)

Abstract

This study examined the impact of domestic debt on private sector investment and economic growth in Nigeria, covering the period 2000-2019. The causal research design was employed. Unit root and cointegrated tests were carried out and the unit root test results showed that the variables were non-stationary at level but became stationary after first differencing. Cointegration test results revealed that the variables are cointegrated meaning that they have long-run equilibrium relationship. Using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method to estimate the specified multiple regression models, findings showed that domestic debt and interest on domestic debt negatively and significantly impacted on private sector investment and economic growth in Nigeria during the period under consideration. The negative impact of domestic debt on private sector investment indicates that government domestic borrowing crowd-out private sector investment. In lieu of the fact that government borrowing (especially domestic borrowing) stifles (crowd-out) private sector investment and retards economic growth in Nigeria, it is recommended that since government borrowing especially through the money market is exerting adverse effects on private sector investment and economic growth, government should endeavor to borrow domestically through the capital market by further developing the Nigerian equity and bond markets in order to enable these markets have the capacity to provide the needed funds. Also, to avoid stunt economic growth and crowding-out effect of government borrowing, government should endeavor to put in place fiscal prudent measures that would favor the private investor by discouraging high government spending in areas that don’t have direct positive impact on private sector investment growth and economic growth.