Analyzing the degree to which climate change has been an agent of economic malaise in African economies: Case study on Zimbabwe

Mavunga, Rutendo

Analyzing the degree to which climate change has been an agent of economic malaise in African economies: Case study on Zimbabwe

Persistent URL

https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/56818

Author(s)

Mavunga, Rutendo

Date Issued

March 13, 2023

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the factors that have been significant in causing economic failure in African countries. The main focus of the paper is to explore how climate change can or has altered economic growth in African countries. However, to ensure that we maintain a holistic narrative on the factors that can impact an economy we must acknowledge other determinants by analyzing the role leadership, gender equality and technology have played in economic development. Outside of these determinants we also acknowledge orthodox measures such as FDI, population, trade and inflation that play a crucial role in shaping the stability of the economy. To further investigate how these selected variables will prove my hypothesis we will be using a time series regression model from 1980-2021, using Zimbabwe as the focus of analysis. This will be followed by a case study that will explain the correlation between the results of the regression and economic growth in Zimbabwe. Overall, the results from the empirical analysis suggest that inflation and population were more critical issues affecting the economy of Zimbabwe today other than climate change. However with these results we must not generalize that climate change is not an important matter in other African countries. In closing this essay seeks to provide feasible solutions that Zimbabwe can harness to bring back stability, prosperity and economic growth whilst raising awareness on the impact climate change will have on African economies in the near future if preventative measures are not put in place today.

Major

Economics

First Reader(s)

Onyeiwu, Stephen Z.