This study examines the spatial impact of FDI on the poverty of 44 African countries. In achieving this, the study uses the Driscoll–Kraay fixed effect instrumental variable regression, the instrumental variable generalized method of moments estimator (IV-GMM), and the spatial Durbin model. The empirical investigation of this study yielded four significant findings: (1) neighboring countries’ FDIs have a positive and significant impact on the incidence and intensity of the host country’s poverty, (2) improved institutional quality in neighboring countries has a significant impact on the FDI–poverty reduction nexus of the host country, (3) the empirical results lend support for a significant spatial spillover of poverty in the region, (4) the marginal effect results indicate that countries within the region are no longer in isolation or independent, i.e., the level of poverty in a particular country is influenced by its determinants in the neighboring country. This result is robust to the alternative proximity matrix, which is the inverse distance. Since there is spatial interdependence among African countries, we recommend that African governments, through the African Union (AU), should not only champion the institutional reform in the region, but also establish a binding mechanism to ensure reform implementation.

In light of environmental challenges, the BRICS countries have stepped to the forefront of economic progress versus environmental sustainability debate. Not only has energy consumption increased rapidly in these countries, but the economic progress and urbanization, mainly driven by intensive fossil fuel production, have also led to higher levels of income inequality. The dynamics of the interplay between economic growth, urbanization, and income inequality on the one hand and environmental sustainability on the other have yet to be fully understood in the BRICS context. This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing debate by assessing a combination of three Environmental Kuznets Curves (EKC) based on the GDPpc-emissions nexus, the income inequality- emissions nexus, and the urbanization-emissions nexus. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ADRL) and Panel Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) models, we find an inverted U-shape EKC between GDP and carbon emissions, an inverted U-shaped EKC between income inequality and carbon emissions, and a U-shaped EKC between urbanization and carbon emissions. The inverted EKC between GDPpc and carbon emissions suggests that in the long run sustainable carbon reduction is possible alongside economic growth, but urbanization’s U-shaped impact on emissions might hinder this. Moreover, the inverted U-shaped relationship between income inequality and carbon emissions indicates a potential long-run trade-off between reducing both inequality and carbon emissions. Factors behind this relationship may vary significantly and include institutions- and country-specific factors, yet policymakers in the BRICS countries will do well attempting to better understand the dynamics behind urbanization and inequality as it will enable them to adopt more effective holistic policies aiming to improve energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and build economic systems contributing to faster economic growth, lower inequality and greater environmental sustainability.

Different regions are linked through different factors such as climate, and border sharing. Apart from this, African countries have developed significant links as a result of globalisation, economic integration, and trade liberalisation. Since any country’s economic growth is influenced by the performance of its neighbours, these ties have resulted in spatial dependence among these countries. On this basis, the significance of spatial interactions between countries cannot be overemphasised. It is for this reason that the study investigated spatial dependence between African countries. The study employed non-spatial (FE, GMM) and spatial (SDM, SAM, and SEM) econometrics techniques and data ranging from 1996 to 2019 to examine the impact of ODA on Economic growth in Africa and its spill-over effects. Based on the graphs and the Moran I test, the findings reveal that (i) there is spatial dependence among African countries (ii) The GMM results indicate that the ODA impact was positive and statistically significant but smaller in magnitude compared to the magnitude of the spatial models’ coefficients. This suggests that not controlling for space heterogeneity will possibly underestimate the real impact of ODA on GDP. Secondly, the study found that the weighted GDP was positive and statistically significant, which indicates that an increase in the GDP of a certain country has a positive and statistically significant impact on their neighbour’s economic growth. Based on the findings of the study, it is suggested that countries should improve their relationships and partnerships if they want ODA to provide the desired benefits across Africa.

This study examines the spatial impact of FDI on the poverty of 44 African countries. In achieving this, the study uses the Driscoll-Kraay fixed effect instrumental variable regression, instrumental variable generalised method of moments estimator (IV-GMM), and the spatial durbin model. The empirical investigation of this study yielded four significant findings: (1) neighbouring countries’ FDI has a positive and significant impact on the incidence and intensity of host country’s poverty. (2) Improved institutional quality in neighbouring countries has a significant impact on FDI-poverty reduction nexus of the host country. (3) the empirical results lend support for a significant spatial spillover of poverty in the region. (4) the marginal effect results indicate that countries within the region are no longer in isolation or independent, i.e., the level of poverty in a particular country is influenced by its determinants in the neighbouring country. This result is robust to the alternative proximity matrix, which is the inverse distance. Since there is spatial interdependence among African countries, we recommend that African governments through the African Union (AU) should not only champion the institutional reform in the region, but also establish a binding mechanism to ensure reform implementation.

Different regions are linked through different factors such as climate, and border sharing. Apart from this, African countries have developed significant links as a result of globalization, economic integration, and trade liberalization. Since any country's economic growth is influenced by the performance of its neighbours, these ties have resulted in spatial dependence among these countries. On this basis, the significance of spatial interactions between countries cannot be overemphasised. It is for this reason that the study investigated spatial dependence between African countries. The study employed non-spatial (FE, GMM) and spatial (SDM, SAM, and SEM) econometrics techniques and data ranging from 1996 to 2019 to examine the impact of ODA on Economic growth in Africa and its spillover effects. Based on the graphs and the Moran I test, the findings reveal that i) there is spatial dependence among African countries ii) The GMM results indicate that the ODA impact was positive and statistically significant but smaller in magnitude compared to the magnitude of the spatial models’ coefficients. This suggests that not controlling for space heterogeneity will possibly underestimate the real impact of ODA on GDP. Secondly, the study found that the weighted GDP was positive and statistically significant, which indicates that an increase in the GDP of a certain country has a positive and statistically significant impact on their neighbour’s economic growth. Based on the findings of the study, it is suggested that countries should improve their relationships and partnerships if they want ODA to provide the desired benefits across Africa.