Africa's statistical tragedy: best statistics, best government effectiveness

Kodila-Tedika, Oasis (2012): Africa's statistical tragedy: best statistics, best government effectiveness.

Abstract

We analyze the effect of statistical capacity on government effectiveness/efficiency using cross-sectional and panel data from a sample of 48 African countries for the period 2003-2008. The results show that statistical capacity positively affects government effectiveness/efficiency. It follows that countries with higher statistical capacity levels enjoy institutions of better quality than countries with low levels of statistical capacity. As a policy implication, if Africa does not have effective governments, it is partly because it has a very weak statistical capacity. In such an environment, access to information for effective governance is compromised.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Institution, Statistical Capacity, Information, Government effectiveness
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making > D73 - Bureaucracy ; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations ; Corruption; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C4 - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics > C43 - Index Numbers and Aggregation; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O17 - Formal and Informal Sectors ; Shadow Economy ; Institutional Arrangements; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O15 - Human Resources ; Human Development ; Income Distribution ; Migration; P - Economic Systems > P4 - Other Economic Systems > P48 - Political Economy ; Legal Institutions ; Property Rights ; Natural Resources ; Energy ; Environment ; Regional Studies; D - Microeconomics > D8 - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty; N - Economic History > N1 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics ; Industrial Structure ; Growth ; Fluctuations > N17 - Africa ; Oceania

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