1. The Relationship Between Ease of Doing Business Indicators and Foreign Direct Investment in AfricaDarlington Chizema, Ewert P. J. Kleynhans, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: This study examines the impact of the business environment on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Africa, utilising panel data from 39 African countries over the period 2005–2019. Institutional and regulatory dimensions are captured through selected indicators from the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index. A dynamic panel data approach is employed, applying the one-step difference Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to address potential endogeneity, autocorrelation, and unobserved heterogeneity. The results indicate strong persistence in FDI, with lagged inflows exerting a significant positive effect on current levels. Among the business environment indicators, registering property is positively and significantly associated with FDI, highlighting the importance of secure property rights. Conversely, getting credit shows a significant negative relationship, suggesting that inefficiencies in credit markets may deter investment. These findings underscore the need for policy reforms aimed at streamlining property registration and enhancing credit market infrastructure to foster a more conducive environment for sustained FDI inflows and economic development.
Keywords: foreign direct investment, economic development, Africa, investment, ease of Doing Business, business environment, GMM
Published in RUP: 10.04.2026; Views: 294; Downloads: 4
 Full text (295,28 KB)
This document has more files! More... |
2. Agricultural-Induced Environmental Kuznets Curve for South Africa : A Threshold Regression and ARIMA Forecasting ApproachAndrew Phiri, Rasaq Raimi, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to examine the impact of the agricultural sector on agricultural emissions in South Africa. To this end, we estimate an agricultural-induced environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for South Africa between 1990 and 2022 using conventional and threshold regression frameworks. Our regression estimates reveal a ‘humped-shaped’ relationship between agricultural production and agricultural emissions, whereby agricultural production produces lower agricultural emissions above threshold estimates of 4,876 and 6,100 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Further investigations show that the South African economy has consistently remained above these thresholds since 2010. Moreover, a forecast analysis of the time series using ARIMA models shows that agricultural productionis (emissions are) on an upward (a downward) trajectory. However, the forecasting analysis also shows that the South African agricultural sector is not scheduled to reach the net-zero emissions target by 2050. Altogether, these findings imply that whilst South Africa had followed a trajectory of sustainable development prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the current trajectory may not be sufficient to attain the 2050 Sustainable Development Goals.
Keywords: agricultural sector, agricultural emissions, environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), threshold regression model, ARIMA forecasting, South Africa
Published in RUP: 16.01.2026; Views: 477; Downloads: 0
Full text (1,03 MB) |
3. Does Financial Development Drive Entrepreneurship in Africa? A Panel Data AnalysisAfees Oluwashina Noah, David Oladipo Olalekan, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Entrepreneurship in Africa faces a multitude of challenges, with financial issues being prominently discussed in scholarly literature. Thus, this study explores how financial development plays a crucial role in encouraging entrepreneurship in Africa, analysing both short- and long-term impacts alongside the direction of causality within the continent. The study utilises panel data regression techniques to analyse data from 28 African countries, spanning from 2006 to 2020. The analysis reveals that financial development, alongside the growth of financial institutions and markets, consistently boosts entrepreneurship development in both time frames. Even though this is more pronounced in the long run, this suggests that the influence of financial development and its components is uniformly positive, with no significant differential impacts observed in either the short or long run. Causality results establish unidirectional causality between entrepreneurship, financial development, and its components, flowing from financial development and its components to entrepreneurship development. Given these insights, the study underscores the necessity for policymakers to focus on sustainable financial development strategies that enhance stability and inclusivity within financial markets.
Keywords: Africa, entrepreneurship, financial development, panel regression
Published in RUP: 18.12.2025; Views: 423; Downloads: 0
Full text (341,03 KB)
This document has more files! More... |
4. |
5. |
