Migration, Innovation, and Growth: An African Story?

Linguere Mbaye and Max Tani

No 12533, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This chapter brings new evidence on the relationship between short-term labour mobility, as proxied by tourism flows, and innovation in Africa. Using data from 34 African countries over the period 2011-2016 sourced from the World Bank's Enterprise Survey, we find that short term mobility positively contributes to innovation, making this a potentially effective channel for economic development alongside established determinants such as investments in R&D, foreign direct investments, and trade. Short-term labour mobility thus emerges in Africa, too, as a prospective policy lever to generate new productive knowledge and promote sustainable economic growth.

Keywords: migration; labour mobility; business visits; innovation; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J61 O15 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2019-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-ino, nep-int and nep-mig
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: M. Konte and L.M.Mbaye (eds.), Migration, Remittances and Sustainable Development in Africa, London, Routledge, 2020, chapter 3, 38-61

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