In the early 1990s the World Bank launched the Regional Program on Enterprise Development in several African countries, a key component of which was the collection of manufacturing firm-level data. In this paper the authors review the research based on the data sets generated by these and subsequent firm surveys in Africa, with a special view to what they think are the most important policy implications. The authors survey the research on the African business environment, focusing on market size, risk, access to credit, labor, and infrastructure. They cover the research on how firms choose to organize themselves and how firms do business. They review the research on firm performance, including firm growth, investment and technology acquisition, and exports. They conclude with an extended discussion of the policy lessons.
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Arne Bigsten & Paul Collier & Stefan Dercon & Marcel Fafchamps & Bernard Gauthier & Jan Willem Gunning & Abena Oduro & Remco Oostendorp & Cathy Patillo & Måns S–derbom & Francis Teal & Albert , 2003.
"Credit Constraints in Manufacturing Enterprises in Africa,"
Journal of African Economies,
Oxford University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 104-125, March.
Other versions:
Bigsten, A. & Collier, P. & Dercon, S. & Fafchamps, M. & Gauthier, B. & Gunning, J.W. & Soderbom, M. & Oduro, A. & Oostendorp, R. & Patillo, C. & Teal, F. & Zeufack, A., 2000.
"Credit Constraints in Manufacturing Enterprises in Africa,"
Working Papers Series
2000-24, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
Arne Bigsten & Paul Collier & Stefan Dercon & Marcel Fafchamps & Bernard Gauthier & Jan Willem Gunning & Abena Oduro & Remco Oostendorp & Catherine Pattillo & Måns Söderbom & Francis Teal & Alb, 2004.
"Do African Manufacturing Firms Learn from Exporting?,"
The Journal of Development Studies,
Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 115-141, February.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Other versions:
Arne Bigsten & Paul Collier & Stefan Dercon & Marcel Fachamps & Bernard Gauthier & Jan Willem Gunning & Abena Oduro & Remco Oostendorp & Catherine Pattillo & Mans Soderbom & Francis Teal & Albert Zeuf, 2004.
"Do African manufacturing firms learn from exporting?,"
Development and Comp Systems
0409071, EconWPA.
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