Assessing Quality of Life from the Lens of Sustainability in Africa

Abstract

Abstract The complex and multidimensional nature of the quality of life (QoL) concept has given rise to different empirical works attempting to determine factors that could enhance its level in developing and emerging economies. Thus, scholars and policymakers have continued to demonstrate a keen interest in the concept because of its critical role in social planning—the goal is to accelerate the level of QoL of the people by lowering the harmful effects of social inequalities prevailing in today’s society. QoL forms one of the twenty-first century’s significant and disturbing social subjects. Thus, this study examined QoL from the sustainability perspective using ecological demands, renewable energy, income, urbanisation, and external debt in 44 African countries between 1990 and 2020. The study applied a battery of first and second-generation estimation techniques, including the dynamic common correlated effect, generalised linear mixed effect model, panel corrected standard error, and panel dynamic ordinary least squares procedures for deriving robust study inferences. The study demonstrated that as ecological demands and external debt continues to grow, QoL is adversely affected. Also, while income and urbanisation significantly positively affected QoL, renewable energy’s impact was neutral. The study proposed applicable policy measures for QoL enhancement in developing and emerging economies. JEL Classification: I31, O55, Q01.