Are Exports the Engine of Growth? A Sectoral Investigation for Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to test the export–led hypothesis in Nigeria using VECM. It disaggregate the exports into various sectors like oil sector export, manufacturing sector export, agricultural sector export, and service sector export. The result shows a long run positive relationship between agricultural export and economic growth is positive. Also, there is a long run positive relationship between the manufacturing sector export and economic growth. However, there is an inverse relationship between the oil sector exports and economic growth in the long run. The paper concludes with the recommendation that there is a need to reduce the oil sector concentration of the country’s export.

Key words: Export, Growth, VECM, Co-integration, Sectors