Nursing the Economic Miracle Patient named Kenya: Advancing the United Nations hypothesis that management of Countries’ Demographics significantly contributed to Economic Development

Abstract

This study reviews the hypothesis advanced by the United Nations that management of countries’ demographics significantly contributed to economic development. Demographic dividends are derived from the management of population characteristics. It is a result of complex components and rationales, measurable and non-measurable. The Kenyan economy is an economic miracle. The country’s economy has responded positively to almost all the measures incorporated in demographics. Its economic variable relationship is a good case study of the benefits of demographic management as advanced by the UN, as countries focus on dependency, productivity, savings, investment and social challenges in relation to population characteristics. Analysis of Kenya's demographic variables is carried out using panel data for the period 1960-2020. Results from the analysis show significant resilience in the Kenyan economy with policy injections for positive results. The study proposes the adoption of a dividend support tool to assist the country in maintaining the recorded trajectory away from the contradicting results of most African countries. The findings present new insights that positively support the notion of economic growth derived from population characteristics supported by good governance.