Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation Spillover

Structural transformation is a compelling measure of economic progress as it shifts from less productive to more productive sectors, spurred by technological improvement and digitalisation. Despite the benefits of structural transformation in fostering economic growth, it has been contended that it...

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Main Authors: Сулейман О. Мамман, Кази Сохаг
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Economics of the Ural Branch 2023-09-01
Series:Экономика региона
Subjects:
Online Access:https://economyofregions.org/ojs/index.php/er/article/view/390
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author Сулейман О. Мамман
Кази Сохаг
author_facet Сулейман О. Мамман
Кази Сохаг
author_sort Сулейман О. Мамман
collection DOAJ
description Structural transformation is a compelling measure of economic progress as it shifts from less productive to more productive sectors, spurred by technological improvement and digitalisation. Despite the benefits of structural transformation in fostering economic growth, it has been contended that it will exacerbate income inequality. Given the critical role of digitalisation over the years in Africa, the current study investigates the pattern and impact of structural transformation on inclusive growth. To accomplish this, we utilised both absolute (poverty) and relative (income inequality) measures of pro-poor growth for all African countries. Using quantiles via moments panel model, we showed that the structural transformation from agriculture to services reduced the incidence of poverty (extreme poverty) while increasing inequality (Gini coefficient). On the other hand, manufacturing had no significant effect on poverty or inequality, indicating the region’s slow pace of industrialisation. Using income share measures, we found evidence of inequality across and within sectors, particularly in the services sector. Finally, we observed that digitalisation and technological processes significantly reduced the incidence of extreme poverty and inequality. Hence, the study recommends that Africa capitalise on its comparative advantage in the agricultural sector by establishing investment and manufacturing zones to develop the industrial sector. Furthermore, gains in the manufacturing sector could be realised through a concerted effort to improve the industrialisation process.
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spelling doaj.art-e0d0e794f1fe474d9b4a3f9df1d05e602024-02-02T21:16:09ZengRussian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Economics of the Ural BranchЭкономика региона2072-64142411-14062023-09-0119310.17059/ekon.reg.2023-3-1Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation SpilloverСулейман О. Мамман 0Кази Сохаг1Ural Federal UniversityUral Federal University Structural transformation is a compelling measure of economic progress as it shifts from less productive to more productive sectors, spurred by technological improvement and digitalisation. Despite the benefits of structural transformation in fostering economic growth, it has been contended that it will exacerbate income inequality. Given the critical role of digitalisation over the years in Africa, the current study investigates the pattern and impact of structural transformation on inclusive growth. To accomplish this, we utilised both absolute (poverty) and relative (income inequality) measures of pro-poor growth for all African countries. Using quantiles via moments panel model, we showed that the structural transformation from agriculture to services reduced the incidence of poverty (extreme poverty) while increasing inequality (Gini coefficient). On the other hand, manufacturing had no significant effect on poverty or inequality, indicating the region’s slow pace of industrialisation. Using income share measures, we found evidence of inequality across and within sectors, particularly in the services sector. Finally, we observed that digitalisation and technological processes significantly reduced the incidence of extreme poverty and inequality. Hence, the study recommends that Africa capitalise on its comparative advantage in the agricultural sector by establishing investment and manufacturing zones to develop the industrial sector. Furthermore, gains in the manufacturing sector could be realised through a concerted effort to improve the industrialisation process. https://economyofregions.org/ojs/index.php/er/article/view/390inclusive growth, poverty, income inequality, structural change, digitalisation, technological progress, welfare, African region, panel data, industrialisation, economic development
spellingShingle Сулейман О. Мамман
Кази Сохаг
Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation Spillover
Экономика региона
inclusive growth, poverty, income inequality, structural change, digitalisation, technological progress, welfare, African region, panel data, industrialisation, economic development
title Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation Spillover
title_full Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation Spillover
title_fullStr Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation Spillover
title_full_unstemmed Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation Spillover
title_short Inclusive Growth and Structural Transformation: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation Spillover
title_sort inclusive growth and structural transformation the role of innovation and digitalisation spillover
topic inclusive growth, poverty, income inequality, structural change, digitalisation, technological progress, welfare, African region, panel data, industrialisation, economic development
url https://economyofregions.org/ojs/index.php/er/article/view/390
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