Abstract

This study explores how transport infrastructure and labor force size influence socioeconomic development in ECOWAS member states, focusing on GDP per capita. Using fixed-effects regression on panel data from 15 countries (2005-2023), initial results showed that a 1% increase in the labor force raised GDP per capita by 1.13%, while a 1% rise in transport infrastructure led to a 0.27% increase. However, an alternative model, addressing violations of key assumptions, found a 1% labor force increase correlated with a 0.16% GDP rise, while a 1% infrastructure improvement resulted in a 0.64% increase. Though strong within-country effects were observed, between-country variations remained less explained, pointing to factors like institutional quality and governance. The findings underscore the importance of labor force growth and infrastructure investment in ECOWAS, advocating for targeted policies to enhance both areas and drive economic development.

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