Browsing by Author "Ochieng Otieno Benjack"

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    CAUSALITY BETWEEN REAL INTEREST RATE AND GROSS CAPITAL FORMATION IN KENYA: THE HICKSIAN HYPOTHESIS
    (EPRA JOURNALS, 2018-09-10) Ochieng Otieno Benjack; Dr. Odondo Alphonce Juma
    In 2016, the Government of Kenyan introduced interest rate cap of 14% per annum to spar investments through cheaper credit acquisition from commercial banks. This objective was not realized as evidenced by deteriorating levels of investments as reported by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in 2017. In response to this incongruity, causal relationship between Real Interest Rate (RIR) and Gross Capital Formation (GCF) together with the relevance of Hicksian Hypothesis was tested in Kenya. Correlational research design was adopted and World Bank Time series data from 1980 to 2017 was used. Long run causality was tested using Vector error correction model (VECM) and revealed a long run causality with the speed of adjustment towards equilibrium = 1.696590 at p =0.0061. Wald test pointed to the existence of short run causality between the two variables. The study found a bi directional causality between RIR and GCF in the short and long-run periods. Consequently, investments decisions in Kenya closely follow the Hicksian hypothesis. Although bidirectional causality was established, a weak negative association existed between the two variables, suggesting the existence of other factors which determine GCF in Kenya given the outlined incongruity. Hence, the two variables should be jointly considered together with other GCF determinants during policy formulation in order to enhance investment activities in the economy.