Political dispensation and macroeconomic performance in Nigeria (1970-2009)

This study examines the extent to which Nigeria has benefited from its democratic experience since independence. Using simple descriptive statistics and data series from 1970 to 2009, the study showed that the trend in macroeconomic performance has not significantly improved. Indeed, the period of democratic regimes seemed more volatile than the other period of non-democratic regimes. The policy inferences from this analysis are that there is more to socioeconomic development than the form of government. Unless those development-enhancing factors are addressed, democracy may not lead to improved socioeconomic development in Nigeria