The Impact of External Debt and Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of external debt and Foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth in Tanzania using time series data from 1971-2011. The empirical analysis was based on ARDL model and the Bounds test approach of co-integration as advocated by Pesaran et al (2001) to test for long-run equilibrium relationship. The results show that, in the long-run debt promote economic growth in Tanzania. However, foreign direct investment exhibits a negative impact on economic growth. While in the short-run, the results indicate that there is no directional causality either between external debts (PD) and economic growth (RGDP) or between FDI_INFL and economic growth (RGDP).