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Is Globalisation Good for Africa?

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Author Info
Bigsten, Arne (Department of Economics, School of Economics and Commercial Law, Göteborg University)
Durevall, Dick () (Department of Economics, School of Economics and Commercial Law, Göteborg University)

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Abstract

Globalisation or market integration in Sub-Saharan Africa is closely linked to the structural adjustment programmes. In this paper we focus on their dependence on politics and institutional characteristics of the countries concerned. In particular, we argue that one important explanation for the dismal performance of many African countries, in spite of all the measures taken towards market liberalisation, is a lack of willingness or ability on the part of the politicians to respect the restrictions imposed on their behaviour and policy choices by the liberalised markets. The point we make in this paper is that market integration magnifies the effects of policies. We look specifically at the increased exposure to international prices and returns on assets make the economic equilibrium relations, the law of one price (LOP) and uncovered interest parity (UIP), relevant guidelines for economic policy. We illustrate the arguments by presenting the case of Zimbabwe. It is a good example where the lack of respect for the restrictions imposed by international markets has led to an economic crisis with negative growth rates and a process away from globalisation.

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File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2077/2841
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Göteborg University, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers in Economics with number 67.

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Length: 33 pages
Date of creation: 25 Mar 2002
Date of revision:
Publication status: Published in World Economy, 2003, pages 1119-36.
Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0067

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Postal: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University Box 640, SE 405 30 GÖTEBORG, Sweden
Phone: 031-773 10 00
Web page: http://www.handels.gu.se/econ/
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Related research
Keywords: Globalisation; structural adjustment; institutions; economic growth; Law of one price; uncovered interest rate parity; Zimbabwe;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General
O10 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
O20 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - General

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References listed on IDEAS
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  1. Coe, David T & Hoffmaister, Alexander W, 1999. "North-South Trade: Is Africa Unusual?," Journal of African Economies, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 228-56, July.
    Other versions:
  2. Foroutan, Faezeh & Pritchett, Lant, 1993. "Intra-sub-Saharan African Trade: Is It Too Little?," Journal of African Economies, Oxford University Press, vol. 2(1), pages 74-105, May.
    Other versions:
  3. Bigsten, Arne & Moene, Karl Ove, 1996. "Growth and Rent Dissipation: The Case of Kenya," Journal of African Economies, Oxford University Press, vol. 5(2), pages 177-98, June.
  4. Bigsten , Arne & Kayizzi-Mugerwa, Steve, 2000. "The Political Economy of Policy Failure in Zambia," Working Papers in Economics 23, Göteborg University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  5. Coe, David T & Helpman, Elhanan & Hoffmaister, Alexander, 1995. "North-South R&D Spillovers," CEPR Discussion Papers 1133, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  6. Wood, Adrian & Mayer, Jorg, 2001. "Africa's Export Structure in a Comparative Perspective," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(3), pages 369-94, May.
  7. Paul Collier, 2000. "Ethnicity, Politics and Economic Performance," Economics and Politics, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 12(3), pages 225-245, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Englebert, Pierre, 2000. "Solving the Mystery of the AFRICA Dummy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(10), pages 1821-1835, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  9. Bigsten, Arne & Kimuyu, Peter & Lundvall, Karl, 2000. "Informality, Ethnicity and Productivity: Evidence from Small Manufacturers in Kenya," Working Papers in Economics 27, Göteborg University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  10. Paul Collier & Jan Willem Gunning, 1999. "Explaining African Economic Performance," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 37(1), pages 64-111, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  11. Jeffrey D. Sachs, 2000. "Tropical Underdevelopment," CID Working Papers 57, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
  12. North, Douglass C, 1991. "Institutions," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 5(1), pages 97-112, Winter. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  13. Esfahani, Hadi Salehi, 2000. "Institutions and government controls," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 197-229, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  14. Arvind Subramanian & Natalia T. Tamirisa, . "Africa's Trade Revisted," IMF Working Papers 01/33, International Monetary Fund. [Downloadable!]
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