Economic Complexity Determinants Insights from Sub-Saharan Countries

Abstract

The economic complexity is one of the most recent indicators that reflect how trade and changes in exports structure can affect economics. Therefore this study aims at assess the main determinants in economic complexity in the lower income countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study depends on the data available on the World Bank and UNCTAD since 1994 till 2017 in selected 13 countries. This paper uses LM unit root test besides the fixed effect, and random effects. The findings show that schooling, NRR and schooling enrollment affect the economic complexity in these countries. Therefore policy makers have to give more attention to diversify the exports and not depend on the primary goods only. On the other hand, these revenues from the exports and FDI have to be directed to poverty eradication. © 2025, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research. All rights reserved.