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Is Africa Actually Developing?

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  • King, Alan
  • Ramlogan-Dobson, Carlyn

Abstract

The results of previous time-series studies of the income convergence hypothesis indicate that practically no African economies are systematically closing their income gap with the rich world. This implies that almost the entire continent is not ‘developing’ in the literal sense of the term. We argue that this finding reflects the assumptions of the discrete-break unit-root tests previously employed and the sample period chosen. We re-assess the hypothesis for 43 African economies using Fourier-type unit-root tests and find that as many as 18 are currently catching-up with the US. However, most only began to do so after the mid-1990s.

Suggested Citation

  • King, Alan & Ramlogan-Dobson, Carlyn, 2015. "Is Africa Actually Developing?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 598-613.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:66:y:2015:i:c:p:598-613
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.09.023
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    4. Ogundari, Kolawole, 2021. "Causal Relationship between Economic Growth and Agricultural productivity in Sub Saharan Africa: A Panel Cointegration Approach," MPRA Paper 110199, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Simplice A. Asongu & Jacinta C. Nwachukwu, 2016. "Rational Asymmetric Development, Piketty and Poverty in Africa," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 13(2), pages 221-246, December.
    6. Silva Lopes, Artur, 2016. "A simple proposal to improve the power of income convergence tests," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 92-95.
    7. Mwale, Martin Limbikani & Kamninga, Tony Mwenda, 2022. "Land rights and the impact of farm input subsidies on poverty convergence," MPRA Paper 112431, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Clark, Don P. & Lima, Luiz Renato & Sawyer, W. Charles, 2016. "Stages of diversification in Africa," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 68-70.
    9. Boako, Gideon & Alagidede, Paul, 2016. "African stock markets convergence: Regional and global analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 317-321.

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