Testing the Triple Deficit Hypothesis for Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for the African Continental Free Trade Area

Samson Okafor (), Chukwunonso Ekesiobi, Ogonna Ifebi (), Stephen Dimnwobi () and Simplice Asongu
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Samson Okafor: Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Ogonna Ifebi: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria
Stephen Dimnwobi: NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

No 21/093, Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. from African Governance and Development Institute.

Abstract: Aware of the nature of deficits in the current account, fiscal account, and the financial account balances of the countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, this inquiry assessed the relationship between these deficits and the implication of such relationship for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). To do this, the study adopted panel data analysis techniques using the Pooled Mean Group-Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) specifications to test for the Triple Deficit Hypothesis (TDH) in the region. The findings of the study revealed the presence of the TDH in SSA where bidirectional causality exists between current account balance and budget balance, and between saving gap and current account balance, with a unidirectional causality running from budget balance to saving gap. The adoption of sound fiscal, monetary, and trade interventions in the region constitutes the major policy recommendations.

Keywords: Triple Deficit Hypothesis; Sub-Saharan Africa; African Continental Free Trade Area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 19
Date: 2021-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr and nep-int
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Forthcoming: African Development Review

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http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/Testin ... b-Saharan-Africa.pdf Revised version, 2021 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Testing the triple deficit hypothesis for sub‐Saharan Africa: Implications for the African Continental Free Trade Area (2022)
Working Paper: Testing the Triple Deficit Hypothesis for Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for the African Continental Free Trade Area (2021)
Working Paper: Testing the Triple Deficit Hypothesis for Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for the African Continental Free Trade Area (2021)
Working Paper: Testing the Triple Deficit Hypothesis for Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for the African Continental Free Trade Area (2021)
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