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Capital Flows and Current Account Sustainability: The Ghanaian Experience

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  • Maxwell Opoku-Afari

Abstract

Both theoretical and operational definitions of current account sustainability show a persistent and fragile current account balance (deficit) for Ghana. This has created a financing gap in the Ghanaian economy, typically filled by capital inflows, in particular aid. Even as Ghana depends to a large extent on aid inflows it has tended to be pro-cyclical. It is evident from the analysis that current account sustainability in Ghana is very sensitive to donor flow dynamics rather than trade flows. To make Ghanaian current account deficits sustainable a more stable and predominant trade contribution is required. Remittances from abroad are of increasing importance since 2000 and are relatively stable and counter-cyclical, and if managed can contribute to current account sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Maxwell Opoku-Afari, 2007. "Capital Flows and Current Account Sustainability: The Ghanaian Experience," Discussion Papers 07/07, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    • Handle: RePEc:not:notcre:07/07
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    File URL: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/credit/documents/papers/07-07.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shruti Shastri & A. K. Giri & Geetilaxmi Mohapatra, 2018. "Testing the Sustainability of Current Accounts for Major South Asian Economies," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 19(1), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Nkuna, Onelie, 2013. "Sustainability of the Malawian Current Account Deficit: Application of Structural and Solvency Approaches," MPRA Paper 51919, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Osei-Assibey, Kwame, 2016. "Revisiting the Diverse Empirical Findings on the Impact of Exchange Rate Volatility on Trade: Some Comparable Evidences from Ghana and Two other Developing Economies," MPRA Paper 94368, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Kirsi Zongo & Marcellin Ndong Ntah & Jean-Marie Gankou, 2022. "Analysis of the sustainability and determinants of the current account deficit in Sub-Saharan Africa [Analyse de la viabilité et des déterminants du déficit courant en Afrique Sub-saharienne]," Working Papers hal-03577955, HAL.

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