An Examination of Subnational Growth in Nigeria: 1999‐2012. (30th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Obikili, Nonso
• Is Part Of: South African journal of economics. Volume 83:Number 3(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 335
• Page End: 356
• Publication Date: 2015-03-30
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; South Africa -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Économie politique -- Périodiques; Afrique du Sud -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; Economie; ECONOMICS; Electronic journals; 330.5
• DOI: 10.1111/saje.12087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-2280

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>I use satellite imagery on night‐time lights to measure growth across states and local government areas in Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999. The data suggest that states in southern Nigeria have grown faster on average than states in the north. Using the Ordinary Least Squares, I estimate a relationship between change in night lights and real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Africa and use the coefficients to estimate GDP growth for states and local government areas in Nigeria over the period. Finally, I evaluate the effects of violence on growth in Plateau, Yobe and Borno states. I find that the crisis in Plateau state has resulted in slower growth compared with other states in the region. I also show that Yobe and Borno states had performed worse than other states in the north even before the outbreak of violence related to the Boko Haram sect.</p> </abstract>