Papers

Journal Papers

How Does Climate Finance Affect the Ease of Doing Business in Recipient Countries?

By Monica Kabutey, Solomon Nakouwo, and John Taden; Journal of Risk and Financial Management

This study examines the impact of climate finance on the ease of doing business (EODB) across 86 countries (2002–2021). While climate finance shows a weak positive effect overall, resource-rich nations experience significant disruptions due to institutional rigidities and transition costs. Conversely, service sectors benefit universally, and non-resource-dependent economies see EODB improvements. Advanced econometric methods (GMM, fixed effects) reveal sectoral disparities: climate finance boosts services but hampers resource-intensive industries.

Does Social Media Penetration Enhance Democratic Institutions? Evidence from Varieties of Democracy Data

By Alex Acheampong and John Taden, Social Indicators Research

This study analyzes the impact of social media on five dimensions of democracy—electoral, liberal, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian—across 145 countries using Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) data. Findings reveal that social media enhances democracy in high-income and middle-income economies but has negative effects in low-income regions. Internet penetration moderates this relationship, with stronger democratic gains where internet access is widespread. The paper employs advanced econometric methods (Lewbel 2SLS, MMQR) to address endogeneity and heterogeneity.

The Contributions of Foreign Aid and Natural Resource Wealth to Democratic Institutions: Evidence from Over 40 Years of Sub-Saharan Africa’s History”

By Alex Acheampong and John Taden, Journal of Government and Economics

This study explores the impact of foreign aid and natural resource wealth on democratic institutions across 45 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1980 to 2021. Using five democracy indices from the V-Dem database and robust econometric techniques, the authors find that multilateral and bilateral aid—particularly from the USA, Australia, UN, EU, and DAC—positively influences democracy. However, resource wealth has mixed effects: coal and forest rents promote democracy, while oil, gas, and mineral rents undermine it. Importantly, the paper reveals that the pro-democracy impact of foreign aid diminishes in resource-rich contexts, confirming the political resource curse and rentier state theories. This paper contributes unique insights by analyzing the joint effects of aid and resources, disaggregating types of resources and aid, and employing dimension-specific democracy measures. The findings have vital implications for foreign policy, aid allocation, and governance reforms in resource-dependent African economies.

Green Growth Assessment Across 203 Economies: Trends and Insights.
By Samuel Sarkodie, Phebe Owusu, and John Taden, Sustainable Horizons

This paper presents the largest cross-country analysis of green growth, covering 203 economies from 1990 to 2021. Using a novel multidimensional dataset, the authors assess performance across five dimensions: environmental productivity, natural assets, quality of life, policy response, and socioeconomics. Results show evidence of global β-convergence in green growth, with top-performing countries including Monaco, Singapore, and New Zealand. Advanced panel methods reveal that strong policy responses, investment in eco-technologies, and inclusive socioeconomic policies drive sustainable development.

Determinants of Swing Voting in Africa: Evidence from Ghana’s Elections
By John Taden, Daniel Banini, and Kingsley Agomor
Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties

This study examines the drivers of swing voting in Ghana’s presidential elections using survey data from the 2016 and 2020 elections. The findings reveal that swing voters are more likely to be more educated, and less exposed to political party gifts. Candidate image, campaign issues, and economic concerns significantly influence their vote choice. The paper also identifies rising political awareness and declining party loyalty as key trends shaping electoral behavior. By focusing on an African democracy, the study broadens understanding of voter volatility in emerging political systems and highlights implications for electoral strategy and democratic consolidation.

Transitioning to Clean Energy: Assessing the Impact of Renewable Energy, Bio-Capacity, and Access to Clean Fuel on Carbon Emissions in OECD Economies
By J MA Naeem, M Appiah, J Taden, R Amoasi, BA Gyamfi, Energy Economics

This paper analyzes how renewable energy use, bio-capacity, and access to clean fuels affect carbon emissions across 38 OECD countries from 2000 to 2020. Using panel cointegration and causality tests, the authors find that renewable energy and clean fuel access significantly reduce emissions, while higher bio-capacity enhances environmental resilience. The study supports the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis and emphasizes the importance of sustained clean energy investment and ecological management. Findings offer policy guidance for OECD nations pursuing low-carbon growth.

Enhancing Natural Resource Rents through Industrialization, Technological Innovation, and Foreign Capital in the OECD Countries
By M Appiah, M Li, J Taden, S Ashraf, AK Tiwari, PB Laari, Resource Policy

This study investigates how industrialization, technological innovation, and foreign direct investment (FDI) influence natural resource rent maximization in 38 OECD economies. Using panel cointegration techniques and dynamic simulations, the authors find that all three factors significantly boost resource rents in the long run. Industrialization and innovation create value-added outputs, while FDI facilitates capital inflow and technology transfer. The paper highlights the role of institutional quality and infrastructure in maximizing returns and recommends integrated strategies to sustain growth from natural resources.

Comprehensive Green Growth Indicators Across Countries and Territories
By Samuel Sarkodie, Phebe Owusu, and John Taden, Scientific Data

This study presents a global dataset of green growth indicators for 243 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. It introduces composite metrics across five dimensions: resource efficiency, natural assets, environmental quality of life, policy efforts, and socioeconomic outcomes. The analysis uncovers significant disparities in green growth performance, with small island and high-income nations ranking highest. Results support global green growth convergence and identify policy, institutional, and economic drivers of progress. The dataset offers a vital tool for evaluating sustainability and guiding policy decisions.

Book Chapters / Policy Pieces / Conference Proceedings

Is African Religiosity a Hindrance to Development? (YES Perspective)
By John Taden
Book: Under the Palaver Tree: Debating Enduring and Contemporary African Issues.

This book chapter argues that African religiosity hinders development by weakening democratic institutions, discouraging economic ambition, and enabling religious extremism. The piece highlights how religious leaders often support authoritarian regimes, using scripture to suppress dissent and reduce civic engagement. Economically, doctrines such as the prosperity gospel promote passivity and justify inequality, while religious institutions undermine state functions and tax systems. The chapter also warns of the destabilizing role of radical groups such as Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. It concludes that while religion is deeply embedded in African societies, its current political and economic entanglements obstruct sustainable development.

Resource Booms, Industrial Busts, and Cross-Border Spillovers in Post-Colonial Africa

By John Taden

This dissertation examines how natural resource booms influence industrial outcomes and regional inequality in Africa. Anchored in the resource curse and Dutch disease literature, the study posits that commodity booms contribute to industrial decline in both resource-rich nations and their neighbors. It tests three hypotheses: that booms suppress national manufacturing sectors, exacerbate subnational disparities, and trigger negative spillovers in adjacent countries. Through spatial panel data analysis covering 1960–2015, the findings provide empirical support for all three claims, emphasizing the role of geography and historical political economy in shaping post-colonial development trajectories.

Why Election Outcomes Are Being Challenged and Why It Matters: Ghana as a Case in Point By John Taden, The Conversation

This article analyzes the growing trend of electoral disputes in Ghana, focusing on the 2020 presidential election challenge by former president John Mahama. The piece argues that petitions have become integral to the democratic process, driven by Ghana’s winner-take-all political system, high campaign costs, and perceived electoral irregularities. While such disputes may generate political tension, they also foster democratic learning, institutional reform, and public vigilance. The author contends that election challenges serve not only as contestations of results but also as strategic tools for negotiation, visibility, and electoral system improvement in young democracies such as Ghana.

Ghana Elections: Swing Voting Is on the Rise, Shaping Outcomes – A Look at What’s Driving This By John Taden, Daniel Banini, Kingsley Agomor, The Conversation

A Meta-Analysis of Climate Risk Mitigation Strategies in the Construction Sector
By Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, Xiaohua Jin, Robert Osei-Kyei, Amma Kyewaa Agyekum, John Taden, Alexander Baah Amoakwa

Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024): SASBE2024, 7-9 November, Auckland, New Zealand

This paper applies a systematic meta-analysis methodology to examine 13 rigorously selected studies on climate risk mitigation in the construction industry. Using clear inclusion criteria, the analysis spans both developed and developing countries to assess patterns, gaps, and effective practices. The study identifies net-zero construction, green procurement, climate-resilient retrofitting, and smart technologies as the most effective mitigation strategies. However, the research reveals a geographic and methodological bias toward developed economies and a lack of quantitative evaluation in existing literature. The authors emphasize the need for context-specific data, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and training for stakeholders to advance sustainable construction globally.

A Meta-analysis of Climate Risk Mitigation Strategies in the Construction Sector

By Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, Xiaohua Jin, Robert Osei-Kyei, Amma Kyewaa Agyekum, John Taden, Alexander Baah Amoakwa & Comfort Owusu Kedjah

Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024)

The construction industry, responsible for 36% of global emissions, must urgently adopt climate-resilient practices as extreme weather intensifies. This study identifies key strategies: training professionals in climate management, implementing net-zero technologies, and developing green infrastructure while retrofitting existing buildings. These measures provide a practical framework for reducing climate risks in construction projects. However, significant research gaps remain regarding climate adaptation in the built environment. The industry must accelerate these sustainable transitions to meet global climate goals and ensure long-term resilience against escalating environmental challenges.