Financial development and income inequality in Africa

Abstract Across the globe, a rise in income inequality has been experienced for the last two decades, particularly in developing countries. This problem of income inequality poses a challenge to Africa’s ability to attain the United Nations (UN) Sustainment Development Goals (SDGs) of reduced inequa...

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Main Authors: Victoria I. Okafor, Isaiah O. Olurinola, Ebenezer Bowale, Romanus Osabohien
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2023-06-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01810-y
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author Victoria I. Okafor
Isaiah O. Olurinola
Ebenezer Bowale
Romanus Osabohien
author_facet Victoria I. Okafor
Isaiah O. Olurinola
Ebenezer Bowale
Romanus Osabohien
author_sort Victoria I. Okafor
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Across the globe, a rise in income inequality has been experienced for the last two decades, particularly in developing countries. This problem of income inequality poses a challenge to Africa’s ability to attain the United Nations (UN) Sustainment Development Goals (SDGs) of reduced inequalities (SDG-10). Against this backdrop, there is a need to harness the potential of financial development to reduce income inequality in Africa. Therefore, this study empirically examines how financial development affects income inequality in Africa. Financial development dimensions, access, depth, efficiency, and stability were considered to achieve the study’s objective. The study applied the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) to analyse data and the findings showed that each dimension of financial development had a varying impact on income inequality. Access, stability and efficiency components of financial development reduce income inequality, while the depth dimension of financial development exacerbates income inequality in Africa. Therefore, the study recommends that policymakers should not neglect other dimensions of finance in facilitating economic development.
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spelling doaj.art-4ad130b86c37459a98ed8d7f016724b82023-06-11T11:08:37ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922023-06-0110111010.1057/s41599-023-01810-yFinancial development and income inequality in AfricaVictoria I. Okafor0Isaiah O. Olurinola1Ebenezer Bowale2Romanus Osabohien3Department of Economics and Development Studies, Covenant UniversityCentre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR), Covenant UniversityDepartment of Economics and Development Studies, Covenant UniversityDepartment of Economics and Development Studies, Covenant UniversityAbstract Across the globe, a rise in income inequality has been experienced for the last two decades, particularly in developing countries. This problem of income inequality poses a challenge to Africa’s ability to attain the United Nations (UN) Sustainment Development Goals (SDGs) of reduced inequalities (SDG-10). Against this backdrop, there is a need to harness the potential of financial development to reduce income inequality in Africa. Therefore, this study empirically examines how financial development affects income inequality in Africa. Financial development dimensions, access, depth, efficiency, and stability were considered to achieve the study’s objective. The study applied the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) to analyse data and the findings showed that each dimension of financial development had a varying impact on income inequality. Access, stability and efficiency components of financial development reduce income inequality, while the depth dimension of financial development exacerbates income inequality in Africa. Therefore, the study recommends that policymakers should not neglect other dimensions of finance in facilitating economic development.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01810-y
spellingShingle Victoria I. Okafor
Isaiah O. Olurinola
Ebenezer Bowale
Romanus Osabohien
Financial development and income inequality in Africa
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Financial development and income inequality in Africa
title_full Financial development and income inequality in Africa
title_fullStr Financial development and income inequality in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Financial development and income inequality in Africa
title_short Financial development and income inequality in Africa
title_sort financial development and income inequality in africa
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01810-y
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