Population dynamics and human capital development in West Africa

Abstract

West Africa is one of the sub-regions threatened with development challenges globally and in sub- Saharan Africa. Fourteen out of her sixteen countries are in the low human development category while the remaining two fall under the medium group. A greater proportion of her population lives in multidimensional poverty, with a very high degree of intensity of deprivation. This study assessed the effect of trade openness and human capital on poverty in West Africa over the period 2005–2018, with focus on 16 countries. A dynamic panel data model, estimated using the Arellano-Bover/Blundell-Bond System Generalized Method of Moments was employed. The findings revealed that human capital contributed significantly to poverty reduction in West Africa, whereas, trade openness did not reduce poverty significantly except through human capital (education). Therefore, for trade liberalization to enhance poverty alleviation in West Africa, countries in the sub-region should invest substantially in human capital development activities (tertiary education).