Publication: Infrastructure and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Date
2008-09
ISSN
Published
2008-09
Author(s)
Abstract
An adequate supply of infrastructure
services has long been viewed by both academics and policy
makers as a key ingredient for economic development.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks consistently at the bottom of all
developing regions in terms of infrastructure performance,
and an increasing number of observers point to deficient
infrastructure as a major obstacle for growth and poverty
reduction across the region. This paper offers an empirical
assessment of the impact of infrastructure development on
growth and inequality, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
The paper uses a comparative cross-regional perspective to
place Africa's experience in the international context.
Drawing from an updated data set of infrastructure quantity
and quality indicators covering more than 100 countries and
spanning the years 1960-2005, the paper estimates empirical
growth and inequality equations including a standard set of
control variables augmented by infrastructure quantity and
quality measures, and controlling for the potential
endogeneity of the latter. The estimates illustrate the
potential contribution of infrastructure development to
growth and equity across Africa.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Calderón, César; Servén, Luis. 2008. Infrastructure and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Policy Research Working Paper No. 4712. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6988 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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