Analysis of Public Investment Expenditure on Economic Growth in WAEMU Countries

Abstract

Public investment expenditure plays an important role in the economy to produce goods and services needed for economic development. This study analyzes the influence of public investment spending on the economic growth of the WAEMU zone. The study considers a linear approach through individual fixed effects models with Beck-Katz and Driscoll-Kraay corrections, the spatial autocorrelation model (SAC) and the long-term model (DOLS). The empirical results of the study using panel data covering the period 1990-2015 indicate that public investment spending can promote economic growth in WAEMU countries when they are allocated in decreasing order to Education, health, public investment in basic road infrastructure and agriculture. However, they are also likely to slow it down when they focus on military spending, even though their primary objective is to ensure security for economic development. Finally, the study recommends that policy makers in WAEMU countries refocus their public expenditure policies in key sectors of development, notably human capital, in order to ensure a multiplier effect of public spending on economic growth and strengthen institutions Democracy to ensure their independence through their interdependence