Effect of HIV/AIDS on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Evidence.

Nketia-Amponsah, E.; Abubakari, M.; Baffour, P. T.

Springer

2019

English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-019-09754-3

This paper examines the effect of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using data from 46 SSA countries spanning the period 2000–2015. Results based on the system-generalized method of moments estimation showed that a 1% increase in the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in SSA decreased the growth in per capita income by 0.47%. The impact of HIV/AIDS on economic growth was felt most in Eastern Africa followed by West Africa, although the prevalence rate was highest in Southern Africa. In particular, a 1% increase in the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Africa and West Africa retarded growth in per capita income by 0.64% and 0.47%, respectively, over the study period. The paper suggests that for SSA to minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS prevalence on growth, African governments should take a cue from the southern African countries by making anti-retroviral drugs more accessible and affordable to persons living with the disease.

Nketiah-Amponsah, E., Abubakari, M. & Baffour, P.T. Effect of HIV/AIDS on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Evidence. Int Adv Econ Res 25, 469–480 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-019-09754-3