Stock Market Performance Indicators and Standard of Living in Nigeria- Entrepreneurial Approach

Abstract

The study examined stock market performance indicators and standard of living in Nigeria for the period of 1986 to 2014. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the contributions of stock market liquidity and new issues (primary) market on the standard of living in Nigeria. The study was structured around an expo facto research design on secondary data sourced from various issues of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin, World Development Indicators (WDI), and Nigeria Stock Exchange Factbook. Two models were developed to test the two hypotheses formulated for the study. The models include, standard of living and stock market liquidity, standard of living and primary (new) issues market. Ordinary least square analysis (OLS) was used to test the hypotheses. The result revealed that stock market liquidity and primary (new) issues market have insignificant effect in improving standard of living in Nigeria The study concludes that in spite of the growth potentials of stock market in Nigeria, it has not contributed meaningfully to improvement of the standard of living of an average Nigerian. The study recommends among others that more intensified and stock liberalization is required such that will encourage more productive investment, resulting in financial deepening, economic growth and development and improved living standard of the citizens.

Keywords: Stock market, Standard of living, Stock Market Liquidity, Primary (New) Issues Market and Entrepreneur