My research spans public finance and fiscal decentralisation, monetary economics, institutional effectiveness and applied development economics. This page brings together my peer-reviewed publications, policy research, working papers and ongoing research projects.
Research profiles: ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate
Estimating the effect of currency substitution on exchange rate volatility: Evidence from Ghana. Hadrat Yusif, Samuel Tawiah Baidoo & Michael Kofi Hanson (2023). Estimating the effect of currency substitution on exchange rate volatility: Evidence from Ghana, Cogent Social Sciences, 9:1, 2233318, DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2023.2233318
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Effect of Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth: The Role of Natural Resources and Trade Openness in Ghana. Hanson, M. K. (2024). Effect of Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth: The Role of Natural Resources and Trade Openness in Ghana. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8, 1347-1361. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.803099
Strengthening state effectiveness through fiscal decentralisation: Insights from Ghana’s DACF. https://www.theigc.org/sites/default/files/2026-02/Hanson-Final-Report-February-2026.pdf
Disinflation without structural reforms: empirical evidence on Ghana using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Dr. Adu Owusu Sarkodie & Michael Kofi Hanson (in submission). This study examines whether Ghana’s recent disinflation reflects a structural shift in inflation dynamics or a temporary stabilisation. It focuses on inflation persistence, exchange-rate pass-through (ERPT), and the role of macroeconomic policy in shaping post-crisis inflation behaviour.
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Health insurance coverage and healthcare utilization: a regression discontinuity approach to exploring supplier-induced demand in Ghana. Michel Kof Hanson, Prof. Edward Nketeiah-Amponsah, and Pious Gamette (in submission). This study examines the causal effect of NHIS access and its age-based exemptions on healthcare utilisation and expenditure using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey round 7 (2016–2017). Exploiting age-based eligibility cut-offs at 18 and 70 years, the analysis applies a regression discontinuity design to estimate local average treatment effects on (i) the probability of visiting a healthcare facility and (ii) inpatient and outpatient healthcare expenditures. To assess the role of information asymmetry, subgroup analyses compare individuals affiliated with and non-affiliated with healthcare professionals.
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F.D.I. ATTRACTION POLICY INSTRUMENTS IN AFRICA: A FOCUS ON INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCIES. Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie & Michael Kofi Hanson (in submission). The study investigates the responses of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Investment Promotion Agencies and their policy instruments in Africa.
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Private Credit Growth, Real Economic Growth and responses to Monetary Policy in Ghana. Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie & Michael Kofi Hanson (in submission).