Impact of National Debt on Economic Growth in Tanzania: 1980-2019

This paper is based on the study that examined the impact of external and domestic debt on economic growth of Tanzania over the period 1980-2019. The study’s specific objectives were; to examine trends of external and domestic debts from 1980 to 2019, to determine long run relationship between external debt stock and economic growth in Tanzania from 1980 to 2019, and to examine the long run relationship between domestic debt and economic growth in Tanzania from 1980 to 2019. The study used time series data of Tanzania collected from the Bank of Tanzania (BOT), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the World Bank indicators. The study used Vector error correction model (VECM) for estimation of the time series since all the variables’ data were stationary in first difference I (1), and there was cointegration within the variables. To ensure the validity and reliability of the data; the study carried out normality test, multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, and unit root tests. The empirical findings reveal that both external and domestic debt significantly affects the economic growth of Tanzania. The study recommends that the government should promote moderate levels of domestic borrowing which can be sustained as it promotes economic growth if used in productive and efficient avenues. The study further recommends that policymakers should efficiently allocate and develop constraints that will ensure the external borrowing is utilized on more productive and development expenditures, so that the finance is a source of increase in net investment in the country.