Can Education and Social Mobility Address Income Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa?

This study examines the relationship among education, social mobility, and income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa using panel data from 25 countries covering the period 2010–2023. A quantitative research design was employed, drawing on secondary data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and the World Economic Forum. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel fixed-effects regression with interaction terms were applied, supported by robustness checks including Jarque–Bera normality, multicollinearity diagnostics, and the Durbin–Watson test. The findings show that education significantly reduces inequality: higher secondary enrollment, longer mean years of schooling, and increased public education expenditure were all negatively associated with the Gini coefficient. Social mobility also exerted a strong independent effect on reducing inequality. Moreover, the interaction between education and social mobility was significant, indicating that the inequality-reducing effect of education is magnified where upward mobility opportunities are greater. Diagnostic results confirmed the reliability of the estimates, with variables approximately normally distributed, no serious multicollinearity, and no evidence of autocorrelation. The study concludes that education and social mobility are complementary in reducing inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. It recommends expanding equitable access to quality education, sustaining public education expenditure, and strengthening labor markets and institutions to enhance mobility.