{
  "title": "Sources of Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, September 1, 2004",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614/index.md",
  "summary": "Analysis of 1960-2002 data shows that average real GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa was low and decelerated continuously before starting to recover in the second part of the 1990s. Growth was driven primarily by factor accumulation with little role for total factor productivity (TFP) growth.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Summary findings",
      "content": "- Analysis of 1960-2002 data shows that average real GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa was low and decelerated continuously before starting to recover in the second part of the 1990s.\n- Growth was driven primarily by factor accumulation with little role for total factor productivity (TFP) growth.\n- The recent pickup in economic growth was accompanied by an increase in TFP growth, namely in the group of countries whose IMF-supported programs were judged to be on track.\n- Average annual growth in the region, at 3½ percent during 1997-2002, is less than half of the estimated growth needed to halve the fraction of population living below $1 per day between 1990 and 2015, one of the Millennium Development Goals."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Data and period covered",
      "content": "- Sample period: 1960-2002.\n- Highlight period for recovery and higher TFP: second part of the 1990s and specifically 1997-2002."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Growth drivers and productivity",
      "content": "- Primary driver: factor accumulation.\n- Limited role: total factor productivity (TFP) growth for most of the period.\n- Notable exception: countries with IMF-supported programs judged to be on track experienced an increase in TFP growth accompanying the recent pickup in economic growth."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Development implications",
      "content": "- Regional growth performance (3½ percent average annual growth during 1997-2002) falls short of the pace required to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the fraction of population living below $1 per day between 1990 and 2015.\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- wp04176\n  - wp04176 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - wp04176 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Brou E Aka, Bernardin Akitoby, Amor Tahari, Dhaneshwar Ghura",
    "Published: September 1, 2004",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451858846.001",
    "Analysis of 1960-2002 data shows that average real GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa was low and decelerated continuously before starting to recover in the second part of the 1990s.",
    "Growth was driven primarily by factor accumulation with little role for total factor productivity (TFP) growth.",
    "The recent pickup in economic growth was accompanied by an increase in TFP growth, namely in the group of countries whose IMF-supported programs were judged to be on track.",
    "Average annual growth in the region, at 3½ percent during 1997-2002, is less than half of the estimated growth needed to halve the fraction of population living below $1 per day between 1990 and 2015, one of the Millennium Development Goals.",
    "Sample period: 1960-2002.",
    "Highlight period for recovery and higher TFP: second part of the 1990s and specifically 1997-2002.",
    "Primary driver: factor accumulation.",
    "Limited role: total factor productivity (TFP) growth for most of the period.",
    "Notable exception: countries with IMF-supported programs judged to be on track experienced an increase in TFP growth accompanying the recent pickup in economic growth.",
    "Regional growth performance (3½ percent average annual growth during 1997-2002) falls short of the pace required to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the fraction of population living below $1 per day between 1990 and 2015.",
    "**_wp04176**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "_wp04176",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2004/_wp04176.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2004/_wp04176.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2004/_wp04176.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/sources-of-growth-in-sub-saharan-africa-17614/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-18T05:35:09.413Z"
}
