This study employs the bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach alongside the dynamic ARDL simulations technique to investigate the non-linear effect of public debt on public expenditure in Nigeria during the 1981–2020 period. The result of the bootstrap bounds test illustrates the presence of a long-term relationship between public expenditure and public debt (along with oil rents, output growth and urbanisation). Further, the estimation results indicate that the effect of public debt on public expenditure is non-linear. In particular, public expenditure increases at early stages of rising public debt but declines at latter phases when public debt grows beyond specific threshold. This empirical outcome is further validated by the dynamic ARDL simulations approach which shows a significant decline in predicted public expenditure after short-term expansion due to counterfactual shock in public debt. Thus, policies which diversify public revenue from oil production and a reversal of the rising trend in public debt are recommended to avert the adverse welfare implications of declining public expenditure.

This study employs the logistic regression method to examine the effect of financial inclusion on the level of poverty in Niger State of Nigeria based on cross-sectional data randomly collected from 624 respondents across 224 towns and villages in 12 local government areas (LGAs) of the state. The estimation results illustrate that financial inclusion (proxied by bank account ownership, including access to bank, credit, and mobile phone) is significantly and negatively related to the level of poverty. This empirical outcome is further validated by the results of the Probit regression technique which show a significant negative relationship between financial inclusion and poverty in the state. Based on these empirical findings, the study recommends policies which include broadening bank coverage, softening credit requirements, and enhancement of people’s access to mobile phone and internet services in rural areas of Niger state.

Tourism can serve as a driver of economic development, but economic growth does not always lead to better human development outcomes. This is particularly evident in post-pandemic tourism when analyzed through the Human Development Index. Supporting Amartya Sen’s argument that well-being should not be measured by income alone, this paper evaluates the impact of tourism within the capability approach. The analysis extends beyond economic indicators to incorporate health, education, and living standards, offering a more comprehensive view of well-being. Focusing on ASEAN 5 countries, the study finds a significant long-term relationship between tourism and human development. Panel cointegration analysis shows that increased tourism activity enhances key human development indicators, particularly healthcare, education, and overall living standards. A well-developed tourism sector can thus contribute to broader societal well-being, aligning with Sen’s emphasis on expanding individual capabilities and improving quality of life. The study advocates for tourism strategies that prioritize human development alongside economic gains, fostering a healthier and more prosperous society. It also presents policy implications and recommendations for promoting tourism in ASEAN 5, addressing gaps in existing literature. Future research could explore whether similar relationships hold across different tourism sectors, such as eco-tourism, medical tourism, and sports tourism.

This study examines the asymmetric effect of shadow economy (SE) on environmental pollution in Egypt during the 1970 and 2022 period. Using the bootstrap nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) bounds-testing approach, the study presents evidence of nonlinear cointegrating relationship between environmental degradation (carbon emission) and shadow economic activities (alongside globalisation, urbanisation, size of economic activity, industrial growth). In addition, the results demonstrate that the impact of shadow economy on environmental pollution (Env) is nonlinear, with the positive shock in shadow economy promoting environmental degradation and negative shocks promoting environmental quality, both in the short- and long-runs. However, the study discovered that the magnitude of the impact of the SE on Env is larger in the short-run. This is further validated by the dynamic nonlinear ARDL simulations technique which demonstrates that the short-run effect of the SE on Env is large. Additionally, the results suggest that income growth, urbanisation, and industrial growth are important drivers of environmental pollution. Therefore, the study recommends the adoption, and most importantly implementation, of policies and strategies geared towards reducing the shadow economy, and consequently environmental pollution.