Abstract
Analyzing data spanning 1980 to 2020 across 23 African nations, we investigate the influence of finance ministers' personal characteristics on debt-to-GDP ratios. Our study identifies specific traits that significantly impact their performance. Notably, we find that the tenure, gender, and education of African finance ministers all play crucial roles in determining public debt outcomes. Interestingly, longer tenures correlate with weaker abilities to influence government debt, while female finance ministers are associated with lower debt-to-GDP ratios compared to their male counterparts. These findings remain robust even after accounting for key determinants like institutional quality and personal characteristics of heads of state. Importantly, the results persist irrespective of finance ministers' foreign education or potential motivations related to personal gains or the revolving door hypothesis.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
