Abstract

This study examines the belief that education fosters economic growth by analyzing the impact of Government education expenditures at different levels on economic growth using Nigerian data for the period 1980-2018. Time series econometrics tests like Unit Root, cointegration, Error Correction Model and Granger Causality were employed to test the hypothesis of education expenditure-led growth strategy. The outcomes of the studies showed that that there is cointegration between total government education expenditures, primary, secondary and tertiary education expenditure and economic growth. The outcomes of the study also revealed that all levels of education expenditure contribute to economic growth positively (tertiary education exerting more positive impact) and are statistically significant (except primary education expenditure that is not significant) at 5%level. The study equally revealed bi-directional causality between t all levels public expenditure on education and economic growth. The study therefore, recommends improved funding for education at all levels given their interconnections. It also recommends that funding of primary education should by supported Federal Government as weak primary school funding will impact on quality of pupils that graduate to secondary school. Again policies aimed at diversifying and broadening the Nigerian economy be rekindled as economic growth have the potential of increasing education spending.

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