The Impact of Human Capital on Growth: Evidence from West Africa

Author/Editor:

Sonia Brunschwig ; Emilio Sacerdoti ; Jon Tang

Publication Date:

November 1, 1998

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper analyzes the impact of human capital on growth, on the basis of refined calculations of human capital, and with a focus on West Africa. Using a growth-accounting methodology, it distinguishes the sources of growth between the accumulation of factors of production and changes in production intensity or efficiency. Private capital is found to be particularly important to growth, but human capital appears not to be significant. The paper also identifies the terms of trade, trade openness, the government deficit, and the share of government investment in total investment as key policy variables affecting growth.

Series:

Working Paper No. 1998/162

Subject:

Frequency:

Annually

English

Publication Date:

November 1, 1998

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451981148/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA1621998

Pages:

34

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