The Long-Run Response of Under-Five Mortality to Corruption: Evidence from Nigeria

Nurudeen Abu; Ben Obi; Onyewuchi Amaechi Ben-Obi

doi:10.23762/FSO_VOL11_NO4_9

Published : 2023-12-31

Vol. 11 No. 4 (2023)

The Long-Run Response of Under-Five Mortality to Corruption: Evidence from Nigeria

Nurudeen Abu

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9843-977X

Ben Obi

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6093-7378

Onyewuchi Amaechi Ben-Obi

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4481-2242

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23762/FSO_VOL11_NO4_9

Abstract

The importance of health to a nation and its citizens cannot be over-emphasised. Better health contributes to human capital development and enhances labour productivity, all of which promote economic growth. Reducing under-five mortality remains one of Nigeria’s major challenges in the health sector and the country has achieved little in her fight against corruption. Despite the co-existence of corruption and high under-five mortality in Nigeria, empirical research on the connection between these two undesirables is minimal. We evaluate the longterm response of under-five mortality to corruption in Nigeria by using an Augmented ARDL (AARDL) method to analyse quarterly data for the 2000-2021 period. There is an evidence of a long-term relationship between corruption and under-five mortality alongside control variables including health expenditure, income growth and rural population, based on cointegration tests. The empirical results confirm that improving corruption control lowers long-term under-five mortality. Furthermore, greater openness to trade and higher spending on public health reduce long-term under-five mortality, while a growing rural population contributes to it. Thus, we recommend measures that lower corruption to reduce long-term under-five mortality in Nigeria.

Keywords:

Under-five mortality, corruption, Augmented ARDL, Nigeria

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Abu, N., Obi, B., & Ben-Obi, O. A. (2023). The Long-Run Response of Under-Five Mortality to Corruption: Evidence from Nigeria. Forum Scientiae Oeconomia, 11(4), 187–204. https://doi.org/10.23762/FSO_VOL11_NO4_9

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