Public investment and export diversification in low skilled labor force economies. Evidence from sub Saharan Africa

Abstract

Export diversification is a means for sustainable economic growth in low-income countries. Consequently, public investment is made in various sectors to attain diversification. In this study, we assessed the long-run elasticity of export diversification to various forms of public expenditure in economies with a dominant unskilled labor force. Public investments in agriculture, education, manufacturing and mining, and transport and ICT were found to promote diversification in the long term, but all were inconsequential in the short term except for education. We conclude that for countries where a larger proportion of the labor force is unskilled public investment in public expenditures in economic and supporting sectors can encourage export diversification. However, outcomes are as dependent on the quantity of investment as they do on quality. Deliberate strategies to promote diversification should be encouraged.