Investing in the blue economy: Socioeconomic dynamics in the impact of government expenditure on marine ecosystem sustainability in Nigeria

IF 3.5 2区社会学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Marine Policy Pub Date : 2025-04-10 DOI:10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106701

Chinazaekpere Nwani , Philip Chimobi Omoke

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Abstract

Marine ecosystems, particularly fishing grounds, face increasing threats from escalating socioeconomic pressures. This study examines the socioeconomic dynamics of government expenditures on marine ecosystem sustainability in Nigeria, with a particular focus on the fishing ground load capacity factor (FGLCF). Using data from 1981--2022, the analysis employs dynamic autoregressive distributed lag modelling and kernel-based regularized least squares to uncover the impacts of disaggregated government spending—administration, economic services, and social and community services—on marine sustainability. The findings reveal that administrative expenditure negatively affects FGLCF, reflecting inefficiencies and a diversion of resources from ecological priorities. Economic service spending has an insignificant impact, underscoring the need for targeted investments in sustainable infrastructure. Conversely, social and community expenditures positively influence FGLCF, demonstrating their critical role in promoting sustainable practices through education, healthcare, and community engagement. The study also identified population growth and economic expansion as significant drivers of marine resource depletion. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers to achieve a balanced relationship between economic progress and the long-term resilience of marine ecosystems in Nigeria. Key policy measures include optimizing resource allocation, mandating environmental assessments for infrastructure projects, and significantly increasing investments in education and healthcare. These strategies aim to align fiscal policies with ecological sustainability, ensuring both economic progress and the preservation of vital natural resources.

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来源期刊

Marine Policy Multiple-

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

13.20%

发文量

428

期刊介绍： Marine Policy is the leading journal of ocean policy studies. It offers researchers, analysts and policy makers a unique combination of analyses in the principal social science disciplines relevant to the formulation of marine policy. Major articles are contributed by specialists in marine affairs, including marine economists and marine resource managers, political scientists, marine scientists, international lawyers, geographers and anthropologists. Drawing on their expertise and research, the journal covers: international, regional and national marine policies; institutional arrangements for the management and regulation of marine activities, including fisheries and shipping; conflict resolution; marine pollution and environment; conservation and use of marine resources. Regular features of Marine Policy include research reports, conference reports and reports on current developments to keep readers up-to-date with the latest developments and research in ocean affairs.