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Competition, Competitiveness and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Reda Cherif
  • Sandesh Dhungana
  • Xiangming Fang
  • Mr. Jesus R Gonzalez-Garcia
  • Yuanchen Yang
  • Mustafa Yenice
  • Jung Eun Yoon

Abstract

Does greater product market competition improve external competitiveness and growth? This paper examines this question by using country-and firm-level data for a sample of 39 sub-Saharan African countries over 2000–17, as well as other emerging market economies and developing countries, and finds that an improvement in domestic competition is associated with a signficant increase in real GDP per capita growth rate, achieved mainly through an improvement in export competitiveness and productivity growth. Price levels, including of essential items, are also generally lowered with an increase in competition. Moreover, at the firm-level, evidence shows that greater competition—proxied through a decline in corporate market power—is associated with an increase in firm’s investment and the labor’s share in output. These effects are more pronounced in the manufacturing sector and among domestic firms compared to foreign firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Reda Cherif & Sandesh Dhungana & Xiangming Fang & Mr. Jesus R Gonzalez-Garcia & Yuanchen Yang & Mustafa Yenice & Jung Eun Yoon, 2020. "Competition, Competitiveness and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa," IMF Working Papers 2020/030, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2020/030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoyang Zhu, 2023. "Financial development and declining market dynamics: Another dark side of “too much finance”?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(1), pages 275-309, July.

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