Twin Deficits in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Evidence through debt

This article tests the twin deficits hypothesis using different debt regimes with a panel of 30 African countries over the period 2004-2017. To do so, a panel threshold regression (PTR) has been used. Our results reveal that the estimated debt thresholds, as a percentage of GDP, are 78.40 for total public debt, 65.25 for external debt and 13.15 for domestic debt. Below these debt thresholds, the fiscal balance has a positive effect on the current account. The twin deficits hypothesis is therefore validated. However, beyond these debt thresholds, the fiscal balance has no significant effect on the current account; the twin deficits hypothesis is rejected.