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Are Biofuels Good for African Development?: An Analytical Framework with Evidence from Mozambique and Tanzania

Author

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  • Channing Arndt
  • Siwa Msangi
  • James Thurlow

Abstract

Many low income countries in Africa are optimistic that producing biofuels domestically will not only reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels, but also stimulate economic development, particularly in poorer rural areas. Skeptics, on the other hand, view biofuels as a threat to food security in the region and as a land-grabbing opportunity for foreign investors. As a result of this ongoing debate, national biofuels task forces have been asked to evaluate both the viability of domestic biofuels production and its broader implications for economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Channing Arndt & Siwa Msangi & James Thurlow, 2010. "Are Biofuels Good for African Development?: An Analytical Framework with Evidence from Mozambique and Tanzania," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2010-110, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2010-110
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2010-110.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mark W. Rosegrant & Tingju Zhu & Siwa Msangi & Timothy Sulser, 2008. "Global Scenarios for Biofuels: Impacts and Implications," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 30(3), pages 495-505.
    2. Arndt, Channing & Benfica, Rui & Tarp, Finn & Thurlow, James & Uaiene, Rafael, 2010. "Biofuels, poverty, and growth: a computable general equilibrium analysis of Mozambique," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 81-105, February.
    3. repec:wbk:wbpubs:4373 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Gebreegziabher, Zenebe & Mekonnen, Alemu & Ferede, Tadele & Kohlin, Gunnar, 2017. "Profitability of Bioethanol Production: The Case of Ethiopia," Ethiopian Journal of Economics, Ethiopian Economics Association, vol. 26(01), April.
    2. Arndt, Channing & Benfica, Rui & Thurlow, James, 2011. "Gender Implications of Biofuels Expansion in Africa: The Case of Mozambique," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 1649-1662, September.
    3. Eric Nazindigouba Kere, 2016. "Do political economy factors matter in explaining the increase in the production of bioenergy?," WIDER Working Paper Series 025, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Eric Nazindigou Kere, 2016. "Do political economy factors matter in explaining the increase in the production of bioenergy?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-25, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Giesecke, J. A. & Tran, N. H. & Meagher, G. A. & Pang, F., 2011. "Growth and Change in the Vietnamese Labour Market: A decomposition of forecast trends in employment," Conference papers 332162, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    6. Ferede, Tadele & Gebreegziabher, Zenebe & Mekonnen, Alemu & Guta, Fantu & Levin, Jörgen & Köhlin, Gunnar, 2013. "Biofuels, Economic Growth, and the External Sector in Ethiopia: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis," RFF Working Paper Series dp-13-08-efd, Resources for the Future.
    7. Stephen Thornhill & Eszter Vargyas & Tony Fitzgerald & Nick Chisholm, 2016. "Household food security and biofuel feedstock production in rural Mozambique and Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(5), pages 953-971, October.
    8. Villamor, Grace B. & Guta, Dawit & Djanibekov, Utkur & Mirzabaev, Alisher, "undated". "Gender specific perspectives among smallholder farm households on water-energy-food security nexus issues in Ethiopia," Discussion Papers 273120, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    9. Nielsen, Thea & Schuenemann, Franziska & McNulty, Emily & Zeller, Manfred & Nkonya, Ephraim M. & Kato, Edward & Meyer, Stefan & Anderson, Weston & Zhu, Tingju & Queface, Antonio & Mapemba, Lawrence, 2015. "The food-energy-water security nexus: Definitions, policies, and methods in an application to Malawi and Mozambique," IFPRI discussion papers 1480, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

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