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How Does Neopatrimonialism Affect the African State? The Case of Tax Collection in Zambia

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  • von Soest, Christian

Abstract

Following the neopatrimonialism paradigm, it can be hypothesised that in African states informal politics of the rulers infringe on the collection of taxes and in turn reduce state revenues. This article tests this proposition for the case of Zambia. The main finding is that there is no linear correlation between a neopatrimonial system and the collection of taxes. Neopatrimonial continuity in the country is evidenced by three factors; the concentration of political power, the award of personal favours and the misuse of state resources. Despite this continuity, the revenue performance has increased considerably with the creation of the semi-autonomous Zambia Revenue Authority. This demonstrates that the effect of neopatrimonialism on public policy in the African state is highly context-specific and dependent on the interaction with additional variables. Donor pressure has been the most important in the Zambian case. In order to apply neopatrimonialism for further empirical work on public policy in the African state, these additional variables have to be incorporated into the analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • von Soest, Christian, 2006. "How Does Neopatrimonialism Affect the African State? The Case of Tax Collection in Zambia," GIGA Working Papers 32, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gigawp:32
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    1. Erdmann, Gero & Engel, Ulf, 2006. "Neopatrimonialism Revisited - Beyond a Catch-All Concept," GIGA Working Papers 16, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    2. World Bank, 2002. "World Development Report 2002," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 5984, April.
    3. Odd-Helge Fjeldstad, 2002. "Fighting fiscal corruption: The case of the Tanzania Revenue Authority," CMI Working Papers WP 2002:3, CMI (Chr. Michelsen Institute), Bergen, Norway.
    4. World Bank, 2003. "Zambia : Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Review," World Bank Publications - Reports 14695, The World Bank Group.
    5. World Bank, 2003. "Zambia - Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Review : Country Financial Accountability Assessment, Annex, Volume 2," World Bank Publications - Reports 14656, The World Bank Group.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Rachel M. Gisselquist & Stefan Leiderer & Miguel Niño-Zarazúa, 2014. "Ethnic Heterogeneity and Public Goods Provision in Zambia: Further Evidence of a Subnational 'Diversity Dividend'," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-162, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Piccolino, Giulia, 2014. "A Democratic Rentier State? Taxation, Aid Dependency, and Political Representation in Benin," GIGA Working Papers 253, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    4. Gisselquist, Rachel M. & Leiderer, Stefan & Niño-Zarazúa, Miguel, 2014. "Ethnic heterogeneity and public goods provision in Zambia: Further evidence of a subnational 'diversity dividend'," WIDER Working Paper Series 162, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Patrick Francois & Ilia Rainer & Francesco Trebbi, 2014. "The Dictator's Inner Circle," NBER Working Papers 20216, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Rose,Jonathan & Gowthaman,Balachandran, 2015. "Civil service recruitment in Comoros : a case of political clientelism in a decentralized state," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7428, The World Bank.
    7. Stroh, Alexander, 2007. "Crafting Political Institutions in Africa. Electoral Systems and Systems of Government in Rwanda and Zambia Compared," GIGA Working Papers 43, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    8. Melia, Elvis, 2020. "African jobs in the digital era: Export options with a focus on online labour," IDOS Discussion Papers 3/2020, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    9. Rakner, Lise, 2012. "Foreign Aid and Democratic Consolidation in Zambia," WIDER Working Paper Series 016, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Bechle, Karsten, 2010. "Neopatrimonialism in Latin America: Prospects and Promises of a Neglected Concept," GIGA Working Papers 153, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

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