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States and Power in Africa by Jeffrey I. Herbst: A Review Essay

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  • James A. Robinson

Abstract

Herbst argues that Africa is plagued by "state failure" to provide certain public goods in society, such as law and order, defense, contract enforcement, and infrastructure. Herbst has provided a bold, historically informed theoretical analysis, essential reading for economists interested in comparative institutions and development.

Suggested Citation

  • James A. Robinson, 2002. "States and Power in Africa by Jeffrey I. Herbst: A Review Essay," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 40(2), pages 510-519, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:40:y:2002:i:2:p:510-519
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/002205102320161357
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    File URL: http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/002205102320161357
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert E. Hall & Charles I. Jones, 1999. "Why do Some Countries Produce So Much More Output Per Worker than Others?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 114(1), pages 83-116.
    2. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson, 2001. "The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1369-1401, December.
    3. William Easterly & Ross Levine, 1997. "Africa's Growth Tragedy: Policies and Ethnic Divisions," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 112(4), pages 1203-1250.
    4. North, Douglass C. & Weingast, Barry R., 1989. "Constitutions and Commitment: The Evolution of Institutions Governing Public Choice in Seventeenth-Century England," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(4), pages 803-832, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Günay ÖZCAN & İbrahim ÖZMEN, 2019. "Does democracy increase total tax revenues? The case of selected OECD countries," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(3(620), A), pages 45-58, Autumn.
    2. James Fenske, 2014. "Ecology, Trade, And States In Pre-Colonial Africa," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 612-640, June.
    3. Sambit Bhattacharyya, 2011. "Growth Miracles and Growth Debacles," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13609, March.
    4. James Fenske, 2014. "Ecology, Trade, And States In Pre-Colonial Africa," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 612-640, 06.

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