The effect of public service provision on poverty reduction and education levels in Sub-Sahara Africa

Valk, Marco

The effect of public service provision on poverty reduction and education levels in Sub-Sahara Africa

Files

16.067 Master_thesis_Marco_Valk_S4638131.pdf (2.45 MB)

Authors

Valk, Marco

Issue Date

2016-10-11

Language

en

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2793

Abstract

In this thesis the effect of public services, in the case for electricity and water provision, on regional poverty rate and average education levels is studied. This is done for 130 regions in 20 sub-Saharan African countries. Current literature and scholars emphasize the importance of public services in developing countries, especially for promoting economic development and reducing poverty. On basis of data from the Afrobarometers from 2010 and 2015 an OLS fixed effect model was created to study this phenomena. No significant effect is found of additional water or electricity connections on a lowering of the regional poverty rates in the Sub-Saharan African region. In contrast, a significant positive effect was found of additional water and electricity connections on increasing the regional education level. This study shows that a correlation between public services, education and poverty is present. However, no proof was found for a causal relationship of public services on reducing regional poverty.

Supervisor

Smits, J.P.J.M.

Faculty

Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen