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This thesis consists of three distinct but interrelated essays on the implications of resources rents, institutions and demographic indicators for economic growth. Chapter two utilises timeseries data to investigate the impacts of oil rents, institutions, and diversification on the Nigerian economy's growth. Chapter three applies panel data to determine the effects of oil rents and institutions on OPEC economies' growth. Chapter four uses extensive panel data of 216 economies and extends our study to consider the implications of demographic factors, political institutions, and natural resource rents on economic growth. Given the potential for endogeneity in regression analysis of the drivers of growth, we draw our main results from estimators that consider possible endogeneity. For the Nigerian economy, oil rents positively impact economic growth, contingent on good institutions. Our findings suggest that the quality of democratic institutions in Nigeria is significant for economic growth. Diversification of the economy also shows a positive effect on growth. For the OPEC economies, oil rents have negative implications for its economic growth. We find empirical evidence that institutional qualities: the legal, anticorruption and government effectiveness qualities positively impact OPEC economic growth. Chapter four shows that the population size and growth rate have an asymmetric impact on economic growth. This thesis contributes to the literature by developing varying institutional qualities for Nigeria and OPEC. Furthermore, we develop a model for the OPEC oligopoly power and demonstrates that countries' population growth rates and size are crucial drivers of growth. We observe that whilst democracy promotes economic growth; it does not necessarily follow that those states that are not democratising will lag in growth. The main conclusions of the thesis are that the existence of strong institutions is crucial for resource-producing countries. Demographic factors are significant for growth, and diversification of the economy is vital for economic growth.

This thesis contributes to the theory of the demand for higher education through an empirical analysis of higher education participation in Great Britain (with particular reference to Scotland). Three dimensions of higher education participation are empirically assessed using Higher Education Statistics Agency data: the effects of tuition fees, differences in participation by gender and student mobility. These research themes are pertinent to policy in the provision of higher education. The chapter 'Tuition Fees and Higher Education Participation' examines the impact of the abolition of tuition fees on higher education enrolment in Scotland. Employing a difference-in-differences methodology, this study shows the effects of abolishing tuition fees on Age Participation Indices in higher education in Scotland. From a policy perspective, the results show that participation rates in higher education are price sensitive and participation is increased by the abolition of tuition fees. The chapter 'Higher Education Enrolment by Gender' analyses female and male enrolments in higher education in Scotland. Female participation in higher education has become significantly higher than male participation in Scotland. This study analyses factors contributing to differences in participation by gender. The graduate employment rate and the population positively influence female enrolments in higher education. Female price response models are developed to analyse the introduction of the Graduate Endowment Fee on female participation. For the majority of institutions, the Fee did not impact the female share of participation. The chapter 'Geographical Mobility in Higher Education' explores factors influencing cross country migration in Great Britain for higher education. Using logistic regressions for British micro data from 1998/99 to 2015/16, this study finds age, socio-economic background, institution classification, subject area and regional location contribute to the probability of individuals moving country for higher education. The largest mobility differences across males and females occur by subject area.