Abstract
This paper investigates the effects of institutional quality on current account balance in a sample of 44 sub-Saharan African countries over the period 1996–2019. The system generalized method of moments approach is privileged for estimations. Our findings show that institutional quality is a determinant of current account balance for sub-Saharan African countries. Specifically, political stability and absence of violence, regulatory quality, control of corruption, and government effectiveness are indicators that are robust and significant determinants of current account balance. Some robustness tests performed confirm our results. These findings indicate that governments in this region should improve institutional quality through strengthening the political environment, reducing corruption, and enabling conditions of private sector development.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acemoglu, D., Johnson, S., & Robinson, J. A. (2002). Reversal of fortune: Geography and institutions in the making of the modern world income distribution. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 117(4), 1231–1294.
Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2006). Economic origins of dictatorship and democracy. Cambridge University Press.
Adam, A., & Tsarsitalidou, S. (2018). Do democracies have higher current account deficits? Constitutional Political Economy, 29(1), 40–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-017-9255-9
Aidt, T. S., & Jensen, P. S. (2013). Democratization and the size of government : Evidence from the long 19th century. Public Choice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-013-0073-y
Altayligil, Y. B., & Çetrez, M. (2020). Macroeconomic , institutional and financial determinants of current account balances : A panel data assessment. Journal of Economic Structures, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40008-020-00225-1
An, H., Chen, Y., Luo, D., & Zhang, T. (2016). Political uncertainty and corporate investment: Evidence from China. Journal of Corporate Finance, 36, 174–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2015.11.003
Anderson, G. M. (1988). Public finance in autocratic process : An empirical note. Public Choice, 57(1), 25–37.
Apolte, T. (2016). Gordon Tullock ’ s theory of revolution and dictatorship. Constitutional Political Economy, 27(2), 158–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-016-9212-z
Arellano, M., & Bover, O. (1995). Another look at the instrumental variable estimation of error-components models. Journal of Econometrics, 68(1), 29–51. https://www.cemfi.es/~arellano/arellano-bover-1995.pdf
Bah, M., & Kpognon, K. (2020). Public investment and economic growth in ECOWAS countries: Does governance Matter? African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2020.1796051
Bah, Mamadou, Atangana Ondoa, H., & Kpognon, K. D. (2021). Effects of governance quality on exports in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Economics, 167(August 2020), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inteco.2021.05.003
Bernanke, B. S. (2005). The Global Saving Glut and the U.S. Current Account. Remarks at the Sandridge Lecture. Virginia Association of Economics, Richmond, VA. March 10., March, 1–10.
Blundell, R., & Bond, S. (1998). Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models. Journal of Econometrics, 87(1), 115–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4076(98)00009-8
Borensztein, E., & Panizza, U. (2009). The costs of sovereign default. IMF Staff Papers, 56(4), 683–741. https://doi.org/10.1057/imfsp.2009.21
Boyd, J. H., & Smith, B. D. (1992). Intermediation and the equilibrium allocation of investment capital Implications. Journal of Monetary Economics, 30.
Bussière, M., Ca’Zorzi, M., Chudík, A., & Dieppe, A. (2010). Methodological advances in the assessment of equilibrium exchange rates. ECB Working Paper No. 1151.
Bussière, M., Fratzscher, M., & Müller, G. J. (2006). Current account dynamics in OECD countries and in the New EU member states : An intertemporal approach. Journal of Economic Integration, 21(September), 593–618.
Ca’Zorzi, M., Chudik, A., & Dieppe, A. (2012). Journal of International Money Thousands of models, one story : Current account imbalances in the global economy. Journal of International Money and Finance, 31(6), 1319–1338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jimonfin.2012.02.003
Calderón, C., Chong, A., & Zanforlin, L. (2007). Current account deficits in africa : Stylized facts and basic determinants. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 56(1), 191–221.
Cheung, C., Furceri, D., & Rusticelli, E. (2013). Structural and cyclical factors behind current account balances. Review of International Economics, 21(5), 923–944. https://doi.org/10.1111/roie.12080
Chinn, M. D., & Ito, H. (2007). Current account balances, financial development and institutions: Assaying the world “saving glut.” Journal of International Money and Finance, 26(4), 546–569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jimonfin.2007.03.006
Chinn, M. D., & Prasad, E. S. (2003). Medium-term determinants of current accounts in industrial and developing countries: An empirical exploration. Journal of International Economics, 59(1), 47–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1996(02)00089-2
Coleman, S., & Cuestas, J. C. (2021). Has the current account broken up with its fundamentals in Central and Eastern Europe? International Journal of Finance and Economics, December 2020, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2458
De Santis, R. A., & Lührmann, M. (2009). On the determinants of net international portfolio flows: A global perspective. Journal of International Money and Finance, 28(5), 880–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jimonfin.2008.09.002
Debellle, G., & Faruqee, H. (1996). What determines the current account? A cross-sectional and panel approach. IMF Working Papers.
Dornbusch, R. (1973). Devaluation, money, and nontraded goods. The American Economic Review, 63(5), 871–880.
Endegnanew, Y., Amo-Yartey, C., & Turner-Jones, T. (2012). Fiscal policy and the current account: Are microstates different? IMF Working Paper Western Hemisphere Department Fiscal Policy and the Current Account: Are Microstates Different?
Fleming, J. M. (1962). Policies under fixed financial domestic rates and under floating exchange. IMF Economic Review, 9, 369–380.
Fry, J. (1993). Foreign direct investment in a macroeconomic framework – Finance efficiency, incentives, and distortions. The World Bank International Economics Department. Working Papers. WPS 1141.
Glick, R., & Rogoff, K. (1995). Global versus country-specific productivity shocks and the current account. Journal of Monetary Economics, 35.
Gnimassoun, B. (2015). The importance of the exchange rate regime in limiting current account imbalances in sub-Saharan African countries. Journal of International Money and Finance, 53, 36–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jimonfin.2014.12.012
Gruber, J., & Kamin, S. (2009). Do differences in financial development explain the global pattern of current account imbalances? Review of International Economics, 17(4), 667–688. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9396.2009.00842.x
Gruber, J. W., & Kamin, S. B. (2007). Explaining the global pattern of current account imbalances. Journal of International Money and Finance, 26(4), 500–522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jimonfin.2007.03.003
Imam, P. A. (2008). Rapid current account adjustments: Are microstates different? IMF Working Papers, 08(233), 1. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451870916.001
Ju, J., & Wei, S. -J. (2007). Current account adjustment: Some new theory and evidence. NBER Working Paper No. 13388.
Ju, J., & Wei, S. (2010). Domestic institutions and the bypass effect of financial globalization. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2(November), 173–204.
Kalyvitis, S., & Vlachaki, I. (2012). When does more aid imply less democracy ? An empirical examination. European Journal of Political Economy, 28(1), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2011.06.010
Kaufmann, D., Aart, K., & Massimo, M. (2010). Worldwide governance indicators. Policy Research Working Paper 5430. Washington, DC: The World Bank. http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/index.aspx#reports%5Cnhttp://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2010/9/wgikaufmann/09_wgi_kaufmann.pdf
Kleibergen, F. R., & Paap, R. (2006). Generalized reduced rank tests using the singular value decomposition. Journal of Econometrics, 133(1), 97–126. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.373420
Knack, S., & Keefer, P. (1995). Institutions and economic performance: Cross-country tests using alternative institutional measures. Economics & Politics, 7(3), 207–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0343.1995.tb00111.x
Kpognon, K. D., Atangana Ondoa, H., Bah, M., & Asare-Nuamah, P. (2021). Fostering labour productivity growth for productive and decent job creation in sub-Saharan African countries: The role of institutional quality. In Journal of the Knowledge Economy (Issue 0123456789). Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-021-00794-x
Lartey, E. K. K. (2019). The effect of remittances on the current account in developing and emerging economies. Economic Notes, 48(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/ecno.12149
Lee, J., Milesi-Ferretti, G. M., Ostry, J., Prati, A., & Ricci, L. A. (2008). Exchange rate assessments: CGER methodologies. IMF Occasional Paper 261.
Legg, A., Prasad, N., & Robinson, T. (2007). Global imbalances and the global saving glut – A panel data assessment. Economic Research Department Reserve Bank of Australia, Research Discussion Paper 2007–11.
Mauro, P. (1995). Corruption and growth. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 110(3), 681–712.
Mendoza, E. G. (1995). The terms of trade, the real exchange rate, and economic fluctuations. International Economic Review, 36(1), 101–137.
Milesi-Ferretti, G. M., & Razin, A. (1996). Persistent current account deficits: A warning signal? NBER Working Paper No. 5467.
Moral-Benito, E., & Roehn, O. (2014). The impact of financial (de)regulation on current account balances. Documentos de Trabajo, No. 1424, Banco de Espana.
Morsy, H. (2009). Current account determinants for oil-exporting countries. IMF Working Papers.
Mundell, R. A. (1962). The appropriate use of monetary and fiscal policy for internal and external stability. IMF Economic Review, 9(1), 70–79.
Nason, J. M., & Rogers, J. H. (2006). The present-value model of the current account has been rejected : Round up the usual suspects. Journal of International Economics, 68, 159–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2005.01.004
Obstfeld, M., & Rogoff, K. (1995). The mirage of fixed exchange rates. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 9(4), 73–96.
Onwuka, K., Chukwu, A. B., & Agbanike, T. F. (2021). Current account and financial reforms: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 26(3), 4303–4314. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2015
Polak, J. J. (1957). Monetary analysis of income formation and payments problems. IMF Economic Review, 6(1), 1–50.
Rodrik, D. (1999). Democracies pay higher wages. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 114(3), 707–738.
Roodman, D. (2009). A note on the theme of too many instruments. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 71(1), 135–158. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.2008.00542.x
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Annex
Annex
List of countries in the study
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Dem. Rep., Congo Rep., Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Bah, M., Atangana, H.O., Kpognon, K.D. et al. Current Account and Institutional Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa: an Empirical Investigation. J Knowl Econ 14, 4466–4488 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-022-01057-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-022-01057-z