The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016)

Progressive public indebtedness in Zimbabwe particularly in the form of foreign financing has culminated into debt distress in the nation. The country has accumulated stocks of unpaid public foreign debts over the years and as a consequence debt burden began to develop in the nation. Apparently such...

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Main Author: Chipunza, Johannes A. T.
Language:English
Published: Midlands State University 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11408/3168
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author Chipunza, Johannes A. T.
author_facet Chipunza, Johannes A. T.
author_sort Chipunza, Johannes A. T.
collection DSpace
description Progressive public indebtedness in Zimbabwe particularly in the form of foreign financing has culminated into debt distress in the nation. The country has accumulated stocks of unpaid public foreign debts over the years and as a consequence debt burden began to develop in the nation. Apparently such accumulation of external debt stocks is posited to lead to debt overhang and determent of private investment. As such this research study examined the relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe over the period 1980-2016. The study regressed private investment (PINV) on current external debt (EXD), past external debt (LAGEXD), public investment (PUBI), household final consumption expenditure (HFCE), debt servicing (DEBTSERV), trade openness (TO) and real interest rate (R). The study aimed at addressing whether external debt accumulation (debt overhang) deters investment and also addressing the crowding out role of external indebtedness on private investment. The study found a negative relationship between public external indebtedness and private investment. Both current and past external debt flows were seen to deter private investment although current debt flows were seen to have insignificant influence on private investment. However, debt service was found to promote private investment. The study therefore concluded that the existence of debt overhang as a consequence of the accumulation of past external debt stocks is discouraging private investment into the economy. The study recommend on the formulation of policies aimed at increasing national savings at the same time reducing public sector access to foreign lending such that private sector confidence in the economy can be promoted. Also, policies that maintain desirable servicing of the external debts can mitigate the negative effects of debt accumulation on private investment.
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spelling ir-11408-31682022-06-27T13:49:04Z The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016) Chipunza, Johannes A. T. Public indebtedness Zimbabwe Foreign financing Debt stress Progressive public indebtedness in Zimbabwe particularly in the form of foreign financing has culminated into debt distress in the nation. The country has accumulated stocks of unpaid public foreign debts over the years and as a consequence debt burden began to develop in the nation. Apparently such accumulation of external debt stocks is posited to lead to debt overhang and determent of private investment. As such this research study examined the relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe over the period 1980-2016. The study regressed private investment (PINV) on current external debt (EXD), past external debt (LAGEXD), public investment (PUBI), household final consumption expenditure (HFCE), debt servicing (DEBTSERV), trade openness (TO) and real interest rate (R). The study aimed at addressing whether external debt accumulation (debt overhang) deters investment and also addressing the crowding out role of external indebtedness on private investment. The study found a negative relationship between public external indebtedness and private investment. Both current and past external debt flows were seen to deter private investment although current debt flows were seen to have insignificant influence on private investment. However, debt service was found to promote private investment. The study therefore concluded that the existence of debt overhang as a consequence of the accumulation of past external debt stocks is discouraging private investment into the economy. The study recommend on the formulation of policies aimed at increasing national savings at the same time reducing public sector access to foreign lending such that private sector confidence in the economy can be promoted. Also, policies that maintain desirable servicing of the external debts can mitigate the negative effects of debt accumulation on private investment. 2018-09-13T08:33:25Z 2018-09-13T08:33:25Z 2018 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/3168 en open Midlands State University
spellingShingle Public indebtedness
Zimbabwe
Foreign financing
Debt stress
Chipunza, Johannes A. T.
The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016)
title The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016)
title_full The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016)
title_fullStr The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016)
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016)
title_short The relationship between public external debt and private investment in Zimbabwe (1980-2016)
title_sort relationship between public external debt and private investment in zimbabwe (1980-2016)
topic Public indebtedness
Zimbabwe
Foreign financing
Debt stress
url http://hdl.handle.net/11408/3168
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