Linking Transport Infrastructure Investments and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

The study explores the link between investments in transportation infrastructure, operationalized in terms of road density, and economic development, defined in terms of gross domestic product per capita (GDP/Cap), in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The findings support the hypothesis of a positive association between the two variables. The association is stronger for paved, than for all, roads in general. Furthermore, a negative but statistically insignificant relationship is observed between unpaved roads and economic development. Thus, economic development is a function more of quality, than quantity of roads in SSA. Therefore, a more judicious use of the scarce resource of sub-Saharan African countries in particular and developing countries in general will entail seeking to improve the quality of the existing inventory of roads as opposed to developing new ones. The goal should, ideally, be to ensure that existing roads are usable all year-round.

Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - Oct 1 1997

Disciplines

  • Earth Sciences

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