An Assessment of the Economic Development Existence in Nigeria

Abstract

Poverty incidence and unemployment rate of the developing countries have been increasing as they claimed development in their economies, the situation in which Nigeria is not an exception. Thereby, this study set to investigate whether economic development existed in the country in the past 27 years, covering the periods of 1986 -2012. Likewise, to inform the decision makers and policy implementers about the appropriate usage of the words 'economic development', and as well portends its redefining and differentiation between 'GDP growth and GDP widening'. The study stipulated ideal methods of assessing the existence of economic development based on the extant definitions from the most relevant authors in the field of Development Economics.