Is the relationship between corruption and domestic investment non-linear in Nigeria? Empirical evidence from quarterly data

Abstract

This study employs the ARDL estimation method to investigate whether corruption and domestic investment relationship is non-linear in Nigeria using quarterly data over the 1996-2019 period. Other alternative estimation techniques such as the CCR, DOLS and FMOLS were used to check for consistency of the results. The results demonstrate that corruption-domestic relationship is non-linear. Although domestic investment reduces with an improvement in the corruption index (reducing corruption), a further reduction in corruption raises the domestic investment. Other significant determinants of domestic investment include income level, oil prices and inflation rate. Based on these outcomes, this study recommends policies to reduce corruption to raise domestic investment.