Moment tests of independent components

We propose simple specification tests for independent component analysis and structural vector autoregressions with non-Gaussian shocks that check the normality of a single shock and the potential cross-sectional dependence among several of them. Our tests compare the integer (product) moments of the shocks in the sample with their population counterparts. Importantly, we explicitly consider the sampling variability resulting from using shocks computed with consistent parameter estimators. We study the finite sample size of our tests in several simulation exercises and discuss some bootstrap procedures. We also show that our tests have non-negligible power against a variety of empirically plausible alternatives.

ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION, TRADE OPENNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A DISAGGREGATED APPROACH

This study examines the relationship between electricity consumption, trade openness and economic growth in 25 African countries during 1980–2016. It disaggregates electricity into renewable and non-renewable and disaggregates trade into exports and imports. It employs cointegration and Granger causality techniques that enable us to determine both joint and individual causality, as well as account for individual heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence. It also uses the variance decompositions (VDs) and impulse response functions (IRFs). This study shows a short-run and long-run joint causality from electricity and trade to growth, as well as a short-run and long-run joint causality from trade and growth to electricity. Besides, the Dumitrescu–Hurlin Granger non-causality technique shows a bidirectional causality between electricity and growth and between trade and growth but a unidirectional causality from electricity to trade. It also reveals the causal relationships from exports, imports, renewable and non-renewable electricity to growth. This study implies that electricity consumption and trade openness stimulate growth, while the latter also determines electricity consumption and trade openness. Based on the findings, we recommend some policy options.

IS THE REPORTS-BASED MEASURE OF UNCERTAINTY STATIONARY? EVIDENCE FROM A NEW PANEL RESIDUAL AUGMENTED LEAST SQUARES UNIT ROOT TEST

To avoid spurious inferences, researchers analyzing the dimensions of uncertainty need to determine whether it is nonstationary. The degree of persistence of uncertainty also indicates the duration of the negative impact of an uncertainty shock on the economy. We use a new panel residual augmented least squares unit root test that allows for heterogeneous structural breaks in both intercepts and slopes of a series to determine the degree of persistence of the reports-based measure of uncertainty and whether it is nonstationary for 143 countries. This group of countries accounts for 99% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). To assess the robustness of our results, we also use recently developed univariate time-series unit root tests that allow for structural breaks and panel unit root tests that accommodate cross-sectional dependence and nonlinearity. Furthermore, an autoregressive wild bootstrap approach is utilized to examine the stationarity of the series. The results are virtually unambiguous in indicating that the reports-based measure of uncertainty is stationary in all countries considered. The results also suggest that uncertainty has a negative impact on the growth rate of GDP. The policy implications of the results are also discussed.

The impact of disasters on economic growth in selected Southern Africa development community countries

This research study explores the impact of disasters on economic growth in selected Southern Africa Development Community countries. Annual data from 2005 to 2019 and panel data econometric estimation techniques are used in this study. The estimation approaches used control for both pooled and individual effects, heteroscedasticity, serial correlation, moderate levels of endogeneity and cross-sectional dependence (CSD). We found that although the impact of disasters on economic growth may be negative contemporaneously, reconstruction and recovery activities if well-resourced could facilitate building back better, which could ultimately lead to positive outcomes on economic growth a year after the disaster. We further tested the hypothesis in existing literature and confirm that quality institutions, favourable financial conditions and adequate access to international markets enhance a country’s coping and adaptive capabilities to disasters, thereby reducing the country’s level of risk to disasters.

Illicit financial outflows, informal sector size and domestic resource mobilization in selected African countries

PurposeThe growth of both the informal sector and illicit financial outflows necessitated this study, in order to investigate how countries in Africa respond to these realities in terms of mobilization of domestic resources. These are the main motivation for the current study to the extant literature in conjunction with the adoption of employing second-generation econometric techniques which take into account cross-sectional dependence and country-specific heterogeneity.Design/methodology/approachThis study therefore examined the capacity of Africa to mobilize domestic resources amidst rising illicit financial outflows and informal sector size in selected African countries between 2000 and 2018. Second-generation econometric techniques such as cross-sectional dependence tests, slope homogeneity tests, Westerlund (2007) long-run co-integration tests, Eberhardt and Teal (2010) augmented mean group estimations and Kónya (2006) panel causality testing were employed.FindingsFindings revealed the existence of cross-sectional dependence and slope homogeneity in the data series. Findings also supported the existence of depressing long-run impacts of IFOs and ISS on domestic savings. Causality test results were not uniform across variables among countries. Policy recommendations favour formalizing the largely informal African economies through budgetary policy adjustments and commitment to building stronger institutions.Practical implicationsThe fragility of the African countries economy and its macroeconomic indicators is suggestive for more policy construction.Originality/valueThis economic reality about the nature of the informal sector is one that has negated the traditional view which holds that economic reforms would make the informal sector shrink as it transits to formal sector. Experiences from Latin America and Africa in fact indicate that the informal sector is actually on an expansionary path in the wake of adjustment and policy reforms. It is often called the unobserved, unorganized or unprotected economy. With this sector growing in size, the possibility of a reverse may not be in sight, owing to the increasing poverty levels and unemployment prevalent in most African countries. Uncertain foreign investment and aid inflows coupled with lower export revenues and high levels of indebtedness have created new impetus to examine the capacity of Africa's fiscal policy regime to mobilise domestic resources for the development of the region. Surprisingly, the last decade witnessed continued rise in Africa's illicit financial outflows amidst large informal sector size (ISS).

Business confidence as a strong tracker of future growth: is it driven by economic policy uncertainty and oil price shocks in the OECD countries?

Business confidence matters for future growth as it relies on opinion surveys of developments in production activities, orders and stocks of finished products. Is it then affected by economic policy uncertainty and oil price asymmetries in the OECD countries? With limited evidence in the literature, we adopt the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator following the evidence of cross-sectional dependence, non-stationarity and cointegration in the panel series. The full sample results show that business confidence is negatively affected by economic policy uncertainty and oil price. Moreover, the role of asymmetries cannot be neglected as both positive and negative oil price changes show different impacts on business confidence. The sub-sample results further reveal that the impacts of economic policy uncertainty and oil price on business confidence are higher in the Eurozone countries than in their non-Eurozone counterparts. We believe this is due to the central economic coordination and higher net-oil dependence and import status of the Eurozone countries.