Journal Press India®

FOCUS: Journal of International Business
Vol 12 , Issue 1 , January - June 2025 | Pages: 1-19 | Research Paper

Determinants of Private Investment in Africa : Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda

Author Details ( * ) denotes Corresponding author

1. * Ali Mohammed Bodaya, Research scholar, Department of Commerce, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India (alidadda217@su.edu.et)
2. Prasanta Sharma, Head of the Department, Department of Commerce, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India (prs@gauhati.ac.in)

This systematic literature review examined factors influencing private investment growth in Africa by reviewing 23 articles (2013-2024) using the PRISMA model. The review involves 53 Researchers from 19 countries and 24 affiliations. This review discovered economic, institutional, and governance factors influencing private investment across the continent. GDP growth, trade openness, public investment, credit availability, and good governance practices are all positive and significant factors influencing private investment. In contrast, high inflation, real interest rates, political instability, and corruption have all been shown to have a detrimental impact on investment decisions. Future research recommendations include micro-level analysis, comparative regional analysis, the use of behavioral economics to capture the nuanced decision-making processes of private investors, and the impact of emerging technologies, including how the adoption of emerging technologies (e.g., fintech, AI) affects private investment and economic growth on the continent. Policymakers can develop more effective ways to boost private investment by addressing macroeconomic and microeconomic variables, resulting in long-term economic growth and development across Africa. 

Keywords

Private Investment; Determinant; Africa; PRISMA; GDP; Systematic Literature Review

  1. Ababio, J. O.-M., Aboagye, A. Q. Q., Barnor, C. & Agyei, S. K. (2022). Foreign and domestic private investment in developing and emerging economies: A review of literature. Cogent Economics and Finance, 10(1), 1–50. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2132646
  2. Abinet, G. A. (2022). Determinants of domestic private investment in West Gojjam zone (the case of Finoteselam and Bure towns). Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), 9(7), 769–789.
  3. Adegoke, A. O., Donga, M., Idi, A. & Abdullahi, B. (2018). An examination of drivers of financial development: Evidence in West African countries. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 6(1), 132–143. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2018.0601.0038
  4. Adelakun, J. & Ogujiuba, K. (2023). A comparative analysis of the determinants of foreign direct investment: The case of top ten recipients of foreign direct investment in Africa. Economies, 11(10), 244. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/economies11100244
  5. Asmare, T. Z., Nuru, S., & Emako, E. (2024). Sources of economic growth in African and East Asian countries: A panel causality analysis. Afrika Focus, 37(1), 144–170. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20240108
  6. Asongu, S. A., Nnanna, J. & Tchamyou, V. S. (2021). Finance, institutions, and private investment in Africa. Politics and Policy, 49(2), 309–351. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12395
  7. Attefah, E. K. & Enning, D. K. (2016). An OLS approach to modelling the determinants of private investment in Ghana. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 6(4), 201-226. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v6-i4/2090
  8. Ayeni, R. K. (2020). Determinants of private sector investment in a less developed country: A case of the Gambia. Cogent Economics and Finance, 8(1). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2020.1794279
  9. Batu, M. M. (2016). Determinants of private investment: A systematic review. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 4(2), 52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20160402.13
  10. Cassel, J., Lerner, J. & Yimfor, E. (2022). Racial diversity in private capital fundraising. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4229123
  11. Djouadi, I., Zakane, A. & Abdellaoui, O. (2024). Corruption and economic growth nexus: Empirical evidence from dynamic threshold panel data. Business Ethics and Leadership, 8(2), 49–62. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.61093/bel.8(2).49-62.2024
  12. Fosu, A. K. (2017). Growth, inequality, and poverty reduction in developing countries: Recent global evidence. Research in Economics, 71(2), 306–336. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rie.2016.05.005
  13. Gasmi, F., Recuero Virto, L., & Couvet, D. (2023). An empirical analysis of economic growth in countries exposed to coastal risks: Implications for their ecosystems. Economic Systems, 47(4). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecosys.2023.101130
  14. Gebresilassie, Y. H., Gebrihet, H. G. & Woldu, G. T. (2024). Corruption and growth in Sub Saharan African countries: Do differences in government effectiveness matter? Journal of Social Economics Research, 11(1), 45–59. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.18488/35.v11i1.3609
  15. Geddafa, T. (2023). Trends and determinants of domestic private investment in Ethiopia: Time series analysis. Cogent Engineering, 10(2). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2023.2283293
  16. Hasdiana, U. (2018). How Europe underdeveloped Africa. In Analytical Biochemistry (Vol. 11, Issue 1).
  17. Jenkins, C. (1998). Determinants of private investment in Zimbabwe. Journal of African Economies, 7(1), 34–61.
  18. Kamasa, K., Kpodo, E. E., Bonuedi, I. & Forson, P. (2022). Does inflation uncertainty hurt domestic investment? Empirical evidence from Ghana. Cogent Economics and Finance, 10(1). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2115673
  19. Kinyanjui, M. W., Muturi, W. & Njeru, A. (2021). Investment incentives as a mediator in the relationship between macroeconomic variables and growth of private domestic investment in Kenya. Journal of Finance and Investment Analysis, 10(1), 1–14. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.47260/jfia/1011
  20. Madaan, G. & Singh, S. (2020). A systematic review of investment influences of individual investors. Test Engineering and Management, 83(May), 15324–15341.
  21. Mahloane, T. B. (2020). Journal of Electronics and Informatics, 2(3). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.36548/jei.2020.3
  22. Mensah, E. K., Asamoah, L. A., & Ahiadorme, J. W. (2021). On the impact of exchange rate uncertainty on private investment in Ghana. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 26(1), 208–217. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.1785
  23. Modisaatsone, N. C. (2013). What drives private saving in Botswana? Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 5(9), 603–611. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v5i9.434
  24. Mose, N. (2015). Determinants of domestic private investment. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 4(2), 35–43. Retrieved from https://doi.org/ 10.20525/ijrbs.v4i2.24
  25. Nina, Y. D. (2021). Private investment and economic growth in Cameroon. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 2(8), 613–625. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.02.08.01
  26. Nkosi, M., Agholor, A. I. & Olorunfemi, O. D. (2024). Agro-investments among small farm business entrepreneurs in the era of the fourth industrial revolution: A case in the Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Administrative Sciences, 14(5), 85. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14050085
  27. Nyoni, T. (2018). Munich personal RePEc archive what determines private investment in Burundi? MPRA, 87614. Retrieved from https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/87614/
  28. Okafor, G., Ede, O., Chijoke-Mgbame, A. M., Ohalehi, P. & Mgbame, O. C. (2021). Ownership structure, corruption, and capital investment: Evidence from firms in selected Sub-Saharan African countries. Thunderbird International Business Review, 63(4), 403–420. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1002/tie.22203
  29. Oshikoya, T. W. (1994). Macroeconomic determinants of domestic private investment in Africa: An empirical analysis. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 42(3), 573–596.
  30. Oualid, D. & Rabah, K. (2024). Corruption and economic growth in North Africa and the Middle East: A cross-country analysis. International Journal of Profissional Business Review, 9(7), 1–19. Retrieved from https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26668/business review/2024.v9i7.4829
  31. Phiri, J., Malec, K., Sakala, A., Appiah-Kubi, S. N. K., Činčera, P., Maitah, M., Gebeltová, Z. & Otekhile, C. A. (2022). Services as a determinant of Botswana’s economic sustainability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215401
  32. Sallam, S. S. (2019). Determinants of private investment in Egypt: An empirical analysis. Review of Economics and Political Science, 4(3), 257–266.
  33. Sharma, R. D. & Vidisha, G. R. (2018). Determinants of private sector investment: Evidence from Mauritius, 1981-2014. European Journal of Pediatric Dermatology, 28(3), 255–275.
  34. Shibia, A. G. (2023). Determinants of manufacturing firms’ research and development investments: Evidence from Kenya. Journal of Business and Socio-Economic Development, 3(2), 134–149. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1108/jbsed-07-2021-0089
  35. Taiwo, O. (2014). Africa’s economic growth. Journal of Economic and Economic Education Research, 16(1), 16–18.
  36. Vicente Cateia, J., Savard, L. & Ataídes de Freitas, C. (2022). Economic impacts of infrastructure investment with different funding mechanisms: evidence from Guinea-Bissau. Cogent Economics and Finance, 10(1). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/ 23322039.2022.2101226
  37. Waktola, A. D. (2021). Analysis of determinants of private investment in Ethiopia. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 9. Retrieved from https://doi.org/ 10.7176/jesd/12-7-03
  38. Zahi, Y. & Benatta, M. (2021). Determinants of private sector investment: An econometric study of the Algerian case 1980-2017. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.33704/1748-007-001-045
Abstract Views: 3
PDF Views: 3

By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.