Shadow economy and educational systems in Africa

Joseph Keneck-Massil () and Alphonse Noah
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Joseph Keneck-Massil: CEREG, University of Yaounde II/CEMOTEV, Associate Researcher, France

Economics Bulletin, 2019, vol. 39, issue 2, 1467-1478

Abstract: Using data from a sample of 30 countries over the period 2000-15, we find evidence that shadow economy is higher in countries where educational system is focused on general programs. This finding highlights the mismatch between the needs of the private sector in skilled workers and what the educational system offers in some countries. In addition, we show that vocational education negatively affects the size of the shadow economy, suggesting that it enhances students' opportunities of finding gainful employment in formal sector. We also find that shadow economy in Africa is related to financial development, public investment as well as demographic dividend. In terms of public implications, our findings call for the need for a balanced educational system between general and vocational education programmes in order to reduce the size of the shadow economy in Africa

Keywords: Shadow economy; Education; Educational systems; African countries. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I2 O1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-06-15
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Working Paper: Shadow economy and educational systems in Africa (2019)
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