Implications of Non –productive and Productive Government Expenditure on Output and Employment: Evidence From Nigeria

Abstract

Nigerian government expenditure has been on an increasing trend over the years, and its contribution to sustainable economic development; promoting long-term output and employment has generated controversial issues in the literature. Against this background, this study analyses the impact of both productive and non-productive government expenditure on output and employment in Nigeria using the Vector Error Correction Model, The long-run equations for output and employment are established. The joint short and long-run causality was also investigated. The study shows a contrary result to theoretical predictions; Nigeria's long-run growth is not promoting by productive government expenditure. Furthermore, there is joint short and long-run causality between employment and government expenditure channels. Evidence from the output equation indicates no joint long and short-run causality. The implication of this result shows that government expenditure either productive or non-productive, has not improved the economy, although there is an increase in employment generation through the non-productive channel, which has not promoted broad-based growth. For the Nigerian government to improve the situation, the study recommends a critical assessment of public expenditure through the cost-benefit approach.