Journal of Public Affairs· 2026Q2
When Ideas Are Free, Development Follows: Does Democracy Matter in the Academic Freedom‐Sustainable Development in A frica?
- 0citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Academic freedom positively impacts sustainable development in 43 African economies, with democracy further amplifying this effect.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Academic freedom has a positive and significant effect on sustainable development.
- Democracy also promotes sustainable development.
- The interactive effect of democracy and academic freedom on sustainable development is positive and statistically significant.
- Results are robust across multiple advanced econometric techniques.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study investigates the effect of academic freedom on sustainable development along with the role of democracy in the relationship. The study is based on a panel of 43 African economies spanning a period from 2000 to 2022. The results based on instrumental variable estimators, quantile regression via moments, and the sequential linear panel dynamic estimation technique that addresses time‐invariant regressors reveal some important findings. First, academic freedom has positive and significant effects on sustainable development. Second, democracy promotes sustainable development. Finally, the net interactive effect of democracy and academic freedom on sustainable development is positive and statistically significant. These results are valid after conducting several robustness checks including alternative estimation techniques. The study concludes that there is a need to strengthen the democratic institutions to improve academic freedom for sustainable development in Africa. This can be done by enacting and enforcing a strong legal system that ensures greater institutional autonomy and protects academic freedom on the continent.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Public Affairs, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Information Systems
Information SystemsComputer Science