Finance-growth nexus in sub-Saharan Africa

An extensive literature has examined the impact of financial development on economic growth.1 A significant branch found empirical evidence of a positive relationship between financial development and economic growth, suggesting ‘more finance, more growth’ (e.g. Beck, Levine & Loayza 2000; King & Levine 1993a, 1993b; Levine, Loayza & Beck 2000). Indeed, most arguments rely on the fact that a more developed financial system reduces information, transaction and monitoring costs while improving the allocation of capital and risk-taking across the economy. These gains exert positive effects on economic growth by increasing investment and its quality, through affecting its composition and encouraging innovation.