Abstract

The real world is complex and economic relationships are intertwined, making it difficult to properly gauge the direct and indirect effects of economic policy without the benefits of an appropriate analytical framework. Economic models can provide such a framework. Critics have accused the Government of Nigeria of lacking analytical rigour in its policymaking efforts. Yet this is not for want of empirical models, most of which have been designed as part of academic investigation of particular policy issues or in fulfillment of doctoral requirements in Nigerian universities. Some of them have never been published while others have been published in academic journals. In general, however, their dissemination has been limited.

This grant will support the publication of two books, one on computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling (500 pages) and the other on macroeconometrics (600 pages). Each book will consist of two components. The first will include new articles by editors, policymakers and specialists in methodology and evidence-based policy. The second will be made up of works by local economists. Since some of these will be outcomes of past efforts, small grants will be made available to the authors to update the literature, incorporate new developments, articulate the policy implications and point the way to future research in that particular area. Strong emphasis will be placed on wide dissemination of the two books. Beneficiaries will include policymakers, researchers, doctoral students and international organizations working in Africa.

Recipient Institution(s)