Social Protection and Economic Growth in ECOWAS zone

This study was applied in ECOWAS countries where mortality rates still remain a concern and this correlates with the low level of social protection despite the numerous social protection policies and systems implemented to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations. The objective of the paper is to analyze the link between social protection and economic growth in ECOWAS countries. Using data from the World Bank WDI (2022), the econometric approaches used are causal analysis based on Granger causality and the DOLS estimation technique. On the one hand, there is a unidirectional relationship between social protection and economic growth in ECOWAS countries. On the other hand, social protection improves economic growth through per capita income in the ECOWAS zone. In conclusion, social protection significantly improves economic growth. Therefore, the implications of economic and social policies should be to emphasize social protection which could improve human capital capable of guaranteeing sustainable development. JEL classification: H55, O47, E24, C51. Keywords: Social protection, Economic growth, Human capital, Granger causality.