Growth in Africa Under Peace and Market Reforms

Author/Editor:

Olessia Korbut ; Gonzalo Salinas ; Cheikh A. Gueye

Publication Date:

February 1, 2011

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

Economic stagnation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has led several economists to question the region’s ability to attain sustained economic growth, some of them arguing for the need to shift away from natural resource - based exports. Yet, we find that low growth has not been common to all SSA countries and that those that achieved political stability and significantly liberalized their economies experienced high growth in income per capita, as high as ASEAN-5 countries. This group of SSA countries attained high growth while maintaining their specialization in natural resource exports. Our analysis also rejects the hypothesis of reverse causality: that good growth performance allowed countries to attain political stability or liberalize their economies.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2011/040

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

February 1, 2011

ISBN/ISSN:

9781455217861/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2011040

Pages:

29

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