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• Open Access Article Macroeconomics

  14 Pages Download PDF: Technological Innovation, Governance Institutions, Infrastructure Development, and Economic Complexity in Africa: Evidence from Dynamic Panel Data

  Technological Innovation, Governance Institutions, Infrastructure Development, and Economic Complexity in Africa: Evidence from Dynamic Panel Data

  Obed Ifeanyichukwu Ojonta, Jonathan Emenike Ogbuabor

  2026-03-17 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v29i1.419

  Africa continues to face persistent development challenges, including poverty, income inequality, limited access to healthcare services, and disparities in education. These challenges contradict the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasize the importance of innovation, infrastructure development, and strong institutions. Technological innovation has increasingly been recognized as a key channel for promoting infrastructure development, improving economic complexity, and strengthening institutional performance. Motivated by these considerations, this study examines the combined effects of technological innovation, governance institutions, human capital development, infrastructure, and foreign direct investment on economic complexity in Africa. In addition, the study investigates how technological innovation, governance institutions, remittances, foreign direct investment, and economic complexity influence infrastructure development across African economies. The analysis employs the system generalized method of moments (system GMM) estimator using panel data for 31 African countries covering the period from 2011 to 2020. The results reveal that technological innovation has a positive and statistically significant effect on both economic complexity and infrastructure development in Africa. However, the indicators of governance institutions are largely negative and statistically insignificant in their influence on economic complexity and infrastructure. Furthermore, governance institutions do not significantly moderate the relationship between technological innovation and these development outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening technological innovation systems while addressing institutional weaknesses to promote sustainable economic development across the African continent.

  pp. 11-24 Abstract views:634 Downloads:581

• Open Access Article Economics

  15 Pages Download PDF: The Impact of School Infrastructure on Academic Performance in Cameroon: Empirical Evidence From Cameroon

  The Impact of School Infrastructure on Academic Performance in Cameroon: Empirical Evidence From Cameroon

  Njong Mom Aloysius, Ndamsa Dickson Thomas, Abety Paul, Nguena Christian-Lambert

  2025-03-15 https://doi.org/10.36923/iefrontiers.v28i1.285

  This study examines the impact of school infrastructure on pupils' academic performance in Cameroon, addressing concerns over persistently low schooling rates and educational outcomes in primary schools. Using cross-sectional secondary data from the PASEC survey conducted across ten Francophone African countries, covering 31,213 pupils from 671 schools in Cameroon. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and robust Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. The findings reveal that school infrastructure has a significant positive effect on pupils’ academic performance, suggesting that improvements in classroom conditions, access to educational resources, and overall school facilities correlate with better academic outcomes. Additionally, several control variables, including electricity at home, parental involvement in education, access to study guides, and the availability of basic learning materials, also show a positive relationship with academic performance. However, certain factors, such as school canteens, catch-up lessons, and WiFi access at home, exhibit unexpected negative effects on pupils' performance, indicating potential distractions or inefficiencies in their implementation. The study concludes that investment in school infrastructure is crucial for enhancing educational quality in Cameroon. It emphasizes the need for targeted interventions focusing on classroom construction, the provision of teaching materials, and inclusive infrastructure to support diverse student needs. From a policy perspective, the Cameroonian government should address urban-rural disparities through decentralization, ensuring that local authorities play an active role in school infrastructure development. The findings suggest that while digitalization is not yet a priority, fundamental infrastructure improvements, such as classrooms, desks, potable water, and libraries, should be prioritized to create a more conducive learning environment.

  pp. 31-45 Abstract views:3847 Downloads:1562

• Open Access Article Economics Macroeconomics

  10 Pages Download PDF: Tourism, Migration, And Productive Capacity Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa

  Tourism, Migration, And Productive Capacity Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa

  Anthony Orji, Elis Moses Onoh, Onyinye Imelda Anthony-Orji, Jonathan Emenike Ogbuabor, Oluchi Okoro, Joseph Fanen Akpesue

  2025-12-19 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v28i2.406

  Productive capacity has emerged as a critical indicator of long-term economic development, particularly for regions undergoing rapid structural transformation, such as Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite increasing global interest, the key drivers of productive capacity in SSA remain insufficiently explored, especially within the context of tourism and migration. Existing studies predominantly rely on GDP-based growth models and often examine tourism and migration separately, overlooking their combined influence on structural development. Moreover, the role of institutional quality in shaping productive capacity is under-investigated. This study examines how international tourism and migration affect productive capacity growth in SSA, while also considering the contributions of urbanization, trade openness, and institutional quality. Using panel data from 38 SSA countries between 2011 and 2021, the analysis employs a dynamic System Generalized Method of Moments (System GMM) estimator to address endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and simultaneity among variables. The results indicate that international tourism and migration exert positive and statistically significant effects on productive capacity. Institutional quality emerges as the most influential driver, followed by urbanization and trade openness. These findings underscore the importance of structural and governance-related factors in enhancing the region’s productive capacity. Tourism and migration contribute meaningfully to productive capacity growth; however, their impact is substantially conditioned by the quality of governance and structural enablers. Policymakers should adopt sustainable tourism strategies, strengthen security and infrastructure, develop migration-friendly frameworks, enhance human capital, and prioritize institutional reforms to maximize long-term productive capacity in SSA.

  pp. 31-40 Abstract views:738 Downloads:244

• Open Access Article Economics

  17 Pages Download PDF: Exploring How Income Inequality, Education, and Policy Shape Energy Access Disparities in Southeast Asia

  Exploring How Income Inequality, Education, and Policy Shape Energy Access Disparities in Southeast Asia

  Syeda Anam Hassan, Inayatul Haq, Alamzeb Aamir, Ihtisham ul Haq, Khalid Zaman

  2025-12-18 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v28i2.403

  The pursuance of Sustainable Development Goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, takes center stage in this research in the vibrant geography of Southeast Asia. This investigation centers on the social and economic ramifications of renewable energy policy, examining the various factors that influence energy fairness and justice. The study aims to determine how financial disparity, community participation, education, policy support, and geographical constraints affected energy access discrepancies in a panel of nine selected Southeast Asian countries from 2000 to 2023. The study employed a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and robust least squares regression for estimation. Income inequality negatively and significantly affects energy access disparity (EAD) in the panel ARDL model. Community involvement and education improve energy accessibility. Education raises awareness of sustainable energy practices and technology, which increases energy-efficient solution adoption. Community involvement affects inclusive energy access and environmental sustainability policies, and public opinion. Additionally, geographical obstacles and public support are correlated positively, indicating that practical policy actions and investments can increase energy availability. Centralized infrastructure, technology, and egalitarian energy solutions may overcome geographical obstacles. Finally, policy support has an "inverted U-shaped" pattern, suggesting that it may promote socioeconomic growth and reduce energy access inequities. The study provides deep insights that can influence targeted policy choices and promote a sustainable and inclusive energy future for Southeast Asian countries.

  pp. 14-30 Abstract views:862 Downloads:181