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The Mauritian Success Story and its Lessons

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  • Arvind Subramanian

Abstract

This paper examines different explanations—initial conditions, openness to trade and FDI, and institutions—of the Mauritian growth experience since the mid-1970s. We show that arguments based on openness to trade and FDI are either misleading or incomplete. Even when correctly articulated, openness appears to be a proximate rather than an underlying explanation for the Mauritian experience. The institution-based explanation offers greater promise. Ultimately, however, the econometric results indicate that existing explanations may be incomplete.

Suggested Citation

  • Arvind Subramanian, 2009. "The Mauritian Success Story and its Lessons," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2009-36, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:rp2009-36
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/RP2009-36.pdf
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    Cited by:

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    2. Oleg Badunenko & Daniel Henderson & Romain Houssa, 2014. "Significant drivers of growth in Africa," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 339-354, December.
    3. Mr. Antonio David & Mr. Martin Petri, 2013. "Inclusive Growth and the Incidence of Fiscal Policy in Mauritius: Much Progress, But More Could be Done," IMF Working Papers 2013/116, International Monetary Fund.
    4. Vinaye Dey Ancharaz & Harshana Kasseeah, 2016. "Surviving Chinese Competition in a Post-Multi-Fibre Arrangement World," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 8(1), pages 35-59, January.
    5. Danquah, Michael & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2017. "Assessing the relationships between human capital, innovation and technology adoption: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 24-33.
    6. Romain Houssa & Oleg Badunenko & Daniel J. Henderson, 2010. "Explaining African Growth Performance: A Production-Frontier Approach," Working Papers 1013, University of Namur, Department of Economics.
    7. Naudé, Wim, 2010. "Development Progress in sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 007, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Katsiaryna Svirydzenka & Martin Petri, 2017. "Mauritius: The Drivers of Growth – Can the Past Be Extended?," Journal of Banking and Financial Economics, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(8), pages 54-83, October.
    9. Zenthöfer, A.F., 2011. "The Resource Curse - A Natural Experiment," Discussion Paper 2011-028, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    10. Zenthöfer, A.F., 2011. "The Resource Curse - A Natural Experiment," Other publications TiSEM b70889c9-84fd-4bcf-a4ef-a, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    11. Tarron Khemraj, 2016. "The Political Economy of Guyana’s Underdevelopment," The Review of Black Political Economy, Springer;National Economic Association, vol. 43(3), pages 325-342, December.
    12. Danquah, Michael & Ouattara, Bazoumana, 2015. "What drives national efficiency in sub-Saharan Africa," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 171-179.
    13. Mensah, Emmanuel B. & Owusu, Solomon & Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2020. "Productive efficiency, technological change and catch up within Africa," MERIT Working Papers 2020-033, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    14. Michael Danquah and Bazoumana Ouattara, 2018. "Comparison of Stochastic Frontier Approaches for Estimating National Efficiency: An Application to Sub-Saharan African Countries," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 43(3), pages 119-142, September.
    15. Arielle Joseph & Bernhard Troester, 2013. "Can the Mauritian Miracle continue? - The role of financial and ICT services as prospective growth drivers," Competence Centre on Money, Trade, Finance and Development 1301, Hochschule fuer Technik und Wirtschaft, Berlin.
    16. Mensah, Emmanuel B. & Owusu, Solomon & Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2023. "Productive efficiency, structural change, and catch-up within Africa," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 78-100.
    17. Zenthöfer, A.F., 2013. "Essays on development economics," Other publications TiSEM 356d10eb-9dfe-44c4-a270-6, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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    Commerce; Economic development; Economic policy; Institutional economics; International economic relations;
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