Using a panel data from 38 Sub-Sahara African (SSA) countries and a dynamic system GMM model, this study examines the individual and interactive impact of financial development, institutional quality, and natural resource endowment on both the stock and the flow of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) to the region. It finds that inward FDI is more dynamic in non-resource-rich than in resource-rich countries; that in non-resource-rich countries, foreign investors rely more on the efficiency of the governance institutions, but in resource-rich countries, the formal financial system provides alternative platform for managing the stock of existing FDI, as well as for providing financial allocative and intermediation roles; that the impact of natural resource endowment and macroeconomic factors are more robust in the stock than it is in the flow of inward FDI; that the capacity of an SSA country's financial system to attract and support foreign investments is dependent on the quality of her telecommunication infrastructure, the quality of legal and governance structures, and the kind of FDI in question; that the positive impact of infrastructure on FDI depends on the size of a country's market; and that although natural resource endowment appears to be key source of inward FDI to SSA countries, its importance has diminished since the start of 2000. Comparative Economic Studies (2012) 54, 597-632.

In Nigeria, the lack of adequate understanding of the complex nature of translating research into policy and the incompatibility existing between researchers and policymakers constitute a great challenge to evidence-informed policymaking. To address these challenges a one-day evidence-to-policy training workshop was organised for policymakers, researchers and other major stakeholders in the health sector in southeastern Nigeria. Of the 104 individuals invited to the workshop 87 (83.6%) attended. The workshop training sessions focused on capacity development for evidence-informed health policy-making and building effective linkages/partnerships. The post-workshop assessment indicated significant improvements in participants' knowledge, their understanding of the health policymaking process and the use of evidence compared to their pre-workshop status. Using a focus group discussion, major strategies identified by participants that can bridge the gap between health policymakers and researchers included: involving both parties in planning and execution of health research and health programmes; promoting dialogue between researchers and policymakers; institutionalising research grants and commissioning research in health ministries; and ensuring that researchers are made to focus on the core needs of policymakers. There is need for further discussion and debate on the researchers and policymakers partnership concept in low income settings.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to investigate, from an undeveloped market perspective, the nature and significance of firm size as a determinant of corporate financial leverage. Design/methodology/approach -A panel data fixed-effects regression model is used to estimate the relationship between financial leverage and firm size, while controlling also for the effects of other acclaimed determinants like asset tangibility, profitability and firm age. The dataset used covers 71 firms quoted in the Nigerian stock markets over a 17-year period (1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006).Findings -The study reveals that as much as 91.4 percent of the total finances of Nigerian-quoted firms is of short-term liabilities, with just 8.6 percent constituting long-term liabilities. It finds that firm size is negatively and significantly related to financial leverage. Controlling for some other determinants, the arising results tend to confirm an over-bearing influence of the pecking order theory in the financing patterns of Nigerian-quoted firms -by revealing that the relationship between profitability and financial leverage is highly significant and negative; and that firm-age is positively and significantly related to financial leverage. Originality/value -Using data from a country with undeveloped and inefficient financial markets, this paper provides an important insight on the international debate on the effects of size on corporate decisions.

Développement de la recherche sur les politiques et les systèmes de santé au Nigéria : leçons à retenir pour l' élaboration de politiques et de pratiques de santé fondées sur les données probantes, xdans les pays en développement

This paper presents and discusses the outcome of an exploratory quantitative cross-sectional study of the perceptions of Nigeria health policy makers on capacity for evidence use in policy making at individual and organisational levels. The capacity for acquisition, assessment, adaptation and application of research evidence in policy making at individual and organisational levels was generally suboptimal. This capacity constraint was the major challenge to health policy and systems research (HPSR) evidence use in policy making. To address this challenge, the following strategies were identified: increased awareness of the value of HPSR, execution of training programmes to improve the skills of policy makers in evidence-based policy making, and enhancing organisational capacity for incentives in evidence use.