The Shadow Economy, Mobile Phone Penetration and Tax Revenue in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of the shadow economy on tax revenue and the moderating effect of mobile phone penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using data on 26 SSA countries over 11 years and employing the system General Method of Moments (GMM) approach, the study reveals that the shadow economy has a significant negative effect on tax revenue in SSA, whereas mobile phone penetration has a significant positive effect on tax revenue. Again, mobile phone penetration plays a moderating role in the shadow economy–tax revenue nexus in SSA. Governments in the SSA region need to update their tax administration systems, construct and enhance infrastructure linked to emerging mobile technology, and implement best practices in tax regulations. Lastly, governments and telecommunications companies should implement some kind of consumer education in the informal sector to raise awareness of the advantages of using mobile phones for business transactions and the simplicity of paying taxes using a mobile device.

Keywords

• shadow economy
• mobile phone penetration
• tax revenue
• sub-Saharan Africa