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Absorptive Capacity and Export Diversification in Sub-Saharan African Countries

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Author Info

  • Habiyaremye, Alexis

    () (UNU-MERIT)

  • Ziesemer, Thomas

    () (UNU-MERIT)

Abstract

This paper examines the extent to which dependence on primary commodities in Sub-Saharan African(SSA) countries can be explained by low levels of absorptive capacity (the ability to acquire, internalize and utilize knowledge developed elsewhere). We examine the individual and combined effects of various indicators of absorptive capacity on export diversification. We test the significance of these effects on a sub-sample consisting of SSA countries and a sample of other developing countries. Our results show that the association between higher levels human capital and basic infrastructure -two crucial components of absorptive capacity -with more export diversification is subject to threshold level effects, while the abundance of natural resources turns out to be impeding diversification in SSA. These results imply that SSA countries need to substantially increase their investments in basic infrastructure as well as reinforce the accumulation pace of human and physical capital to allow active technological learning and reduce their dependence on primary commodities.

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File URL: http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2006/wp2006-030.pdf
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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by United Nations University, Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology in its series UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series with number 030.

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Date of creation: 2006
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Handle: RePEc:dgr:unumer:2006030

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Web page: http://www.merit.unu.edu

Related research

Keywords: absorptive capacity; human capital; capital accumulation; export diversification; Sub-Saharan Africa.;

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Cited by:
  1. Chandra, Vandana & Osorio Rodarte, Israel, 2007. "Options for Export Diversification and Faster Export Growth in Ghana," MPRA Paper 18539, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  2. Ziesemer, Thomas, 2010. "From Trends in Commodities and Manufactures to Country Terms of Trade," UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series 022, United Nations University, Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology.
  3. Chandra, Vandana & Osorio Rodarte, Israel, 2009. "Options for Income-Enhancing Diversification in Burkina Faso," MPRA Paper 20928, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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