IMF Working Papers

Post-Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience: Leveraging Reforms for Growth and Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa

By Paola Ganum, Vimal V Thakoor

February 19, 2021

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Paola Ganum, and Vimal V Thakoor. Post-Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience: Leveraging Reforms for Growth and Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2021) accessed October 13, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

Covid-19 has exacerbated economic and social vulnerabilities across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is a risk that growth could be lower for longer, with a setback to development. Post-pandemic reforms thus become even more important, especially with constrained scope for fiscal and monetary stimuli. Reforms could boost per capita growth by an additional 0.3-1.3 percentage points, relative to the 1.9 percent average since 2010. Such growth would reduce per capita income doubling time from 37 years to about 22 years. Low-income countries stand to gain the most from reforms. The largest gains come from governance, products markets, and factor accumulation. Importantly, these reforms can be implemented in the post-pandemic environment characterized by weaker social and distributional outcomes.

Subject: Commodity markets, Income, Labor market reforms, Labor markets, Structural reforms

Keywords: COVID-19, Demand management, Development, Frontier country, Governance reform, Growth, Labor market indicator, Labor market market index, Labor market rigidity, Per capita income, Political Economy, Product market efficiency, Product market reform, SSA countries' performance, SSA economy, Sub-Saharan Africa., WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    33

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

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  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2021/045

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2021045

  • ISBN:

    9781513570044

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941