Foreign aid volatility and lifelong learning

Asongu, Simplice and Uduji, Joseph and Okolo-Obasi, Elda (2019): Foreign aid volatility and lifelong learning. Published in: International Journal of Education Economics and Development , Vol. 11, No. 4 (December 2020): pp. 370-406.

Abstract

This paper has put a demand-side empirical structure to the hypothesis that foreign aid volatility adversely affects choices to lifelong learning in recipient countries. Lifelong learning is measured as the combined knowledge acquired during primary, secondary and tertiary educational enrolments. Three types of aggregate foreign aid volatilities are computed in a twofold manner: baseline standard deviations and standard errors (standard deviations of residuals after first-order autoregressive processes). An endogeneity robust system GMM empirical strategy is employed. The findings broadly show that foreign aid volatility does not adversely affect the demand-side choices of lifelong learning in Africa. As a policy implication, when faced with aid uncertainty, the demand for education would increase. This may be explained by the need for more self-reliance in order to mitigate income risks or/and the use of education as means of coping with uncertainty. More policy implications are discussed.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Lifelong learning; Foreign aid; Development; Africa
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F35 - Foreign Aid; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I20 - General; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I28 - Government Policy; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O55 - Africa; P - Economic Systems > P1 - Capitalist Systems > P16 - Political Economy

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