Economic and Financial Review
Publisher
Central Bank of Nigeria
Keywords
Savings, Net Foreign Assets, Current Account Deficits, Panel Data Analysis, Sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract
A profile of the current account balance in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) shows that many countries in the region have consistently experienced current account deficits, dwindling savings and diminishing net foreign assets. These macroeconomic variables convey important information to economic agents about the health of a nation. The relationships among these three important variables in terms of short-run and long-run dynamics are cloudy in the literature. Therefore, this study examined the long-run and short-run dynamics of savings, net foreign assets and current account balance in subSaharan Africa. Utilising panel econometric techniques with annual data from 38 countries in SSA for the period 1980 to 2013, it was found that savings and net foreign assets impact positively on the current account balance, while foreign direct investment, population growth and dependency ratio had negative impact on current account balance. These findings implied that African governments, desirous of improving their current account balance, must institute policies aimed at increasing savings and net foreign assets and properly manage foreign direct investment, as well as population growth and dependency ratio.
Publication Title
CBN Economic and Financial Review
Issue
1
Volume
55
Recommended Citation
Adeleke, A. I.; Ohemeng, W. and Ofori-Boateng, K. (2017). Savings, Net Foreign Assets and Current Accounts Dynamics in SubSaharan Africa. CBN Economic and Financial Review. 55(1), 1-27.