The impact of external public debt on economic growth: an economic study: the case of Morocco

Abstract

This study examines the impact of external public debt on Morocco's economic growth from 1998 to 2022, using gross domestic product (GDP) as the dependent variable. Key explanatory variables include external public debt, gross national savings, external public debt service, and the investment rate. Employing annual time series data, the study adopts advanced econometric techniques such as the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) tests to assess stationarity, Johansen cointegration to identify long-run relationships, and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to analyze both short- and long-term dynamics. The results show a significant long-run equilibrium relationship between the variables. External public debt and debt servicing negatively affect GDP, highlighting their detrimental impact on Morocco’s economy. Conversely, gross national savings and the investment rate show potential for positive growth contributions. These findings align with global evidence and emphasize the critical need for effective external debt management. To enhance growth, policymakers should focus on optimizing debt allocation toward productive investments, diversifying exports to bolster foreign exchange reserves, and encouraging domestic savings to reduce external borrowing reliance. This study provides valuable insights into debt sustainability challenges and contributes to the discourse on public finance strategies for developing economies like Morocco.

Keywords: Economic Growth, Gross Domestic Product, External Debt Public, External Debt Public Service, VECM, Johansen Cointegration approach, Morocco.

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/16-1-03

Publication date: January 30th 2025