Macroeconomic variables affecting youth unemployment rate in African countries

Abstract

The research aims to test the effect of the foreign direct investment rate, inflation rate, government spending rate, population growth, GDP growth, the degree of trade openness, and the corruption risk index on the youth unemployment rate in African countries. Although youth unemployment rates in African countries are not among the highest rates in the world, it remains a problem that requires serious consideration in addressing it as it is considered a major factor in political instability. The research adopted the method of multiple linear regression and panel data for the period 1990-2019 for sixteen African countries for which the required data for the research were available: Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda, Niger, Senegal, Mozambique, Nigeria, Central Africa, Tanzania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Kenya Angola, Cameroon. It was concluded that foreign direct investment ratio was negatively affects the youth unemployment rate. While the effect of government spending, population growth and corruption risk index (decreased risk of corruption) was positive. No significant effect of economic growth, inflation rate, and trade openness has been demonstrated on the youth unemployment rate in African countries.