Determinants absolute and relative income hypothesis across twenty selected African countries

A number of studies have been conducted about income hypotheses in some African countries, the study determinants absolute and relative income hypotheses across twenty selected African countries from 1980 to 2015. This study tries to find out or verify whether the selected countries are in conformity to the Absolute and Relative Income Hypotheses as well as finding out whether interest rates, inflation rates, and exchange rates have a significant impact on consumption per capita. Fixed effects, Random effects, Hausman test and some Diagnostics tests were employed for the analysis of the data. The results indicated that Income per capita had a positive significant impact on Consumption per capita and marginal propensity to consume is smaller than one. Interest Rates, Inflation Rates, and Exchange Rates have a negative significant impact on Consumption. Relative Consumption was significantly affected by Relative Income but negatively. Finally, Demonstration effect was also discovered among the selected countries. It was concluded that the twenty selected African countries are in conformity to Absolute and Relative Income Hypothesis and the remain independent variables under study (interest rates, inflation rates, and exchange rates) have a significant impact on consumption per capita. With regards to the findings, policy makers of these countries were recommended to maintain a low level of interest rates, inflation rates and exchange rates due to the negative relationship they have with consumption. By undertaking this, it would promote consumption; an increase in consumption will induce more job opportunities; generating more revenue and taxes to the government.