Winners and Losers Post Democratic Reform in Nigeria: A Microeconomic Analysis of Changes in Economic and Labor Market Outcomes

Abstract:     
In this paper, the question of differential welfare impacts, across interest groups post democratic reform in a developing country, is explored. There is data evidence that welfare has improved post democracy in Nigeria. However, the distribution or concentration of the benefits of democracy in subgroups of the population is unknown. I break down the population into interest groups along the lines of sector, region, age cohort and education. The analysis shows these groups all benefitted from reforms post democracy but the magnitude differed significantly. I find that individuals with tertiary education are the big winners post democratic reform in Nigeria. Part of the high benefit of democratic reform on those with tertiary education is explainable from policy choices and reform. However, a part of it is linked with general equilibrium effects of a movement to democracy.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 27

Keywords: democracy, disparities, returns to education, institutional change

JEL Classification: D39 , D63, P51, O10

working papers series