Higher Education and Economic Growth
Summary by Alison Ridington, Research Assistant, TSEDEQ
April 2006
Higher Education and Economic Growth in Africa, Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong, Oliver Paddison, & Workie Mitiku, J of Development Studies, 42:3, 509-529.
Bridging the gap of future generations can start with a step of enforcement in primary education. Though it is difficult to increase quality and opportunities of education, due to lack of resources, hiring skilled administrators and teachers can encourage the desired outcome. In 1995 Africa spent over two percent of the world average from their government budget for education, but their human capital remains low. There is a clear effort being made to create change, but through emigration of the highly educated, it has become more difficult for citizens to adopt new technology and adjust to the fast paced world outside of Africa.
Both impersonal and personal changes have developed from education by income growth. Foreign technology increases efficiency when it can be understood by individuals and can enhance their lives and trades. Through enhanced trade families will lead richer lives and be able to improve their health by a larger diet and possibly relocation to a sanitary neighborhood. Relocation can lead to a lower crime community, which impacts the growth of children into a safer and stable society, creating a new generation of educated citizens. But the people should not limit themselves to higher education, they should also have other dreams and aspirations of what education can bring to their lives.
Currently Africa is facing problems with losing their highly educated citizens through emigration…what is called the "brain drain."Highly educated individuals are leaving to seek greater opportunities than they would receive in their home country. Different loan opportunities have been created to encourage graduates to stay. These graduates are needed to undergird economic growth. A survey of 34 countries showed there was a significant increase of income growth rate among the highly educated. There has also been a continued high increase of human capital among the educated. Their morals and values have been enhanced. Conflicts and continued clashes among cultures (ethnic fragmentation) have decreased as higher education has increased.
The government needs to find a way to produce more employment opportunities for the highly educated. By these there will be a higher quantity of people helping their own people. This will increase a nation's economic growth rate and social capital. Overall, there is an opportunity to reduce poverty and increase prosperity and hard work through higher education. A push for higher education can only bring beneficial change for generations to come.