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Why Doesn't Africa Get More Equity Investment? Frontier Stock Markets, Firm Size and Asset Allocations of Global Emerging Market Funds

Author

Listed:
  • Todd Moss
  • Vijaya Ramachandran
  • Scott Standley

Abstract

This paper addresses the question of investment in sub-Saharan African listed securities by examining characteristics of the continent’s 15 equity markets, the rise and fall of African regional funds, and the asset allocation trends for global emerging market (GEM) funds. The data shows that South Africa is now a leading destination of capital, but that few managers invest elsewhere on the continent. However, we find that African markets are not treated differently than other markets and present evidence that small market size and low levels of liquidity are a binding deterrent for foreign institutional investors. Thus, orthodox market variables rather than market failure appear to explain Africa’s low absolute levels of inward equity flows. The paper then turns to new data from firm surveys to explore why African firms remain small. The implications of our findings are threefold: (a) efforts to encourage greater private investment in these markets should concentrate on domestic audiences and specialized regional funds, (b) the depth and success of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange can perhaps be better utilized to benefit other parts of the continent, and (c) any long-term strategy should concentrate on the underlying barriers to firm entry and growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd Moss & Vijaya Ramachandran & Scott Standley, 2007. "Why Doesn't Africa Get More Equity Investment? Frontier Stock Markets, Firm Size and Asset Allocations of Global Emerging Market Funds," Working Papers 112, Center for Global Development.
  • Handle: RePEc:cgd:wpaper:112
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    File URL: http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/12773
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean-Francois HOARAU, 2009. "INVESTISSEMENTS DIRECTS eTRANGERS ET INTeGRATION ReGIONALE : UN eTAT DES LIEUX POUR LE MARCHe COMMUN D’AFRIQUE DE L’EST ET DU SUD," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 29, pages 69-103.
    2. Chen, Mei-Ping & Chen, Pei-Fen & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2014. "Frontier stock market integration and the global financial crisis," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 84-103.
    3. Rubi Ahmad & Oyebola Fatima Etudaiye-Muhtar & Bolaji Tunde Matemilola & Amin Noordin Bany-Ariffin, 2016. "Financial market development, global financial crisis and economic growth: evidence from developing nations," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 15(3), pages 199-214, December.
    4. Javier Santiso, 2008. "Banking on Development. Private Financial Actors and Donors in Developing Countries," OECD Development Centre Policy Briefs 34, OECD Publishing.
    5. Sugimoto, Kimiko & Matsuki, Takashi & Yoshida, Yushi, 2014. "The global financial crisis: An analysis of the spillover effects on African stock markets," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 201-233.
    6. Jean-Louis Warnholz, 2008. "Is investment in Africa low despite high profits?," CSAE Working Paper Series 2008-31, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    7. Del Giudice, Alfonso & Paltrinieri, Andrea, 2017. "The impact of the Arab Spring and the Ebola outbreak on African equity mutual fund investor decisions," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 600-612.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    sub-Saharan African; equity markets; global emerging market; inward equity flows; private investment; Johannesburg Stock Exchange;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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