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on Africa |
| By: | Leandro Prados de la Escosura |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the connections between independence from Spain and Portugal and economic backwardness in Latin America. The release of the fiscal burden was offset by higher costs of self-government, while opening up to the international economy represented a handmaiden of growth. Independence had a very different impact across regions and widened regional disparities. The commitment to the colonial mercantilism conditioned the new republics’ performance but, on the whole, GDP per head increased in the half a century after emancipation. It appears that inherited Iberian institutions cannot be blamed for Latin America’s poor performance relative to the US, especially if the scope is widened to include the post-independence performance of former European colonies in Africa and Asia. It is suggested that before jumping to the usual negative assessment of nineteenth century Latin America, a comparison of post-independence performance in other world regions will be required. |
| Date: | 2004–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cte:whrepe:wh046816&r=afr |
| By: | Artz, Georgeanne M.; Orazem, Peter |
| Abstract: | As population changes, counties’ rural or urban designation also changes.This affects perceptions of rural growth. Since the fastest growing counties grow out of their rural status, use of the most recent rural designation excludes the most successful rural counties. Average economic performance of the counties remaining rural significantly understates the true performance of rural counties. This paper illustrates that choice of rural code (called the Beale code) can alter conclusions regarding the magnitude and even the sign of factors believed to influence growth. Most strikingly, the estimated impact of human capital on rural growth is completely reversed when the sample is based on end-of-period rather than start-of-period rural status. The use of short time frames such as a single decade to evaluate relative growth across counties can also yield misleading inferences. |
| JEL: | R0 |
| Date: | 2005–01–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:12224&r=afr |
| By: | Chris Papageorgiou; Petia Stoytcheva |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lsu:lsuwpp:2005-01&r=afr |
| By: | Dominique van de Walle (World Bank) |
| Abstract: | In the absence of household level data on participation in public programs, spending allocations and poverty measures across regions of Morocco are used to infer incidence across poor and non-poor groups and to decompose incidence within rural and urban areas separately, as well as to decompose improvements in enrollment rates across poor and non-poor children by gender. Programs appear to be well targeted to the rural poor but not to the urban poor. Substantial benefits accrue to the urban non-poor, while benefits largely bypass the urban poor. The analysis also uncovers evidence of impressive progress in primary and secondary school enrollments for the poor, as well as for poor girls since 1994. However, here too, the gains are concentrated on the rural poor. This paper—a product of the Public Services Team, Development Research Group—is part of a larger effort in the group to assess the incidence and targeting of public expenditures. |
| Keywords: | Poverty |
| Date: | 2005–01–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:3478&r=afr |
| By: | DR. GODWIN CHUKWUDUM NWAOBI (QUANTITATIVE ECONOMIC RESEARCH BUREAU, NIGERIA) |
| Abstract: | AGRICULTURE IN ITS COMMON PARLENCE INCLUDES PRODUCTION, RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN THE FIELDS OF CROPS, FORESTRY, FISHING AND LIVESTOCK. NIGERIAN AGRICULTURE WAS CHARACTERIZED BY LOW FARM INCOMES; LOW CAPACITY LEVEL TO SATISFY FOOD AND FIBRE NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY, AND PRIMITIVE TECHNIQUES OF PRODUCTION. YET, THERE WAS LITTLE CONSENSUS WITH RESPECT TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE STRATEGY FOR SECURING INCREASED FARM OUTPUT AND PRODUCTIVITY IN AN UNDERDEVELOPED AGRICULTURE. THIS PAPER THEREFORE ARGUED THAT CAREFUL PLANNING,SCIENTIFIC FORECASTING AND IMPROVED IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM ARE FACTORS WHICH WILL YIELD THE NATION MORE DIVIDEND THAN MERE STATEMENTS, PROMISES AND STRATEGIES. |
| Keywords: | AGRICULTURE, ECONOMY, NIGERIA, GREEN REVOLUTION PROGRAMME, OPERATION FEED THE NATION, CREDIT, FINANCE, POLICIES, DEVELOPMENT, POST- INDEPENDENCE |
| JEL: | Q10 Q18 O13 |
| Date: | 2005–01–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpdc:0501001&r=afr |
| By: | DR. GODWIN CHUKWUDUM NWAOBI (QUANTITATIVE ECONOMIC RESEARCH BUREAU, NIGERIA) |
| Abstract: | THE CONCEPT OF AN INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT FOR ECONOMIC ANALYSIS. HERE, WE DEFINE SUGAR INDUSTRY AS GROUP OF FIRMS PRODUCING SUGAR THAT ARE CLOSE SUBSTITUTES BY THE USE OF IDENTICAL PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND RAW MATERIALS. HOWEVER, SUGAR INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA WAS STILL IN ITS PIONEERING STAGE. THIS PAPER THEREFORE ARGUES THAT THE STRUCTURE AND ORIENTATION OF NIGERIAN SUGAR INDUSTRY HAVE NOT INDUCED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND THUS A MORE URGENT ATTENTION WAS NEEDED FROM THE POLICY MAKERS AND GOVERNMENT TO CHECK THE OBSERVED UGLY SITUATION. |
| Keywords: | NIGERIA, SUGAR, INDUSTRY, PRODUCTION, PRICING POLICY, DISTRIBUTION, TECHNIQUES, MARKET STRUCTURE, GOVERNMENT, INCENTIVES |
| JEL: | D40 L10 L60 M00 |
| Date: | 2005–01–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpio:0501001&r=afr |
| By: | DR. GODWIN CHUKWUDUM NWAOBI (QUANTITATIVE ECONOMIC RESEARCH PAPER, NIGERIA) |
| Abstract: | COAL WAS DISCOVERED IN NIGERIA IN 1909 AND COAL MINING STARTED WITH A DRIFT MINE AT OGBETE, ENUGU IN 1915. SINCE 1958/59, WHEN COAL PRODUCTION REACHED ITS PEAK, THERE HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT FLUCTUATION IN THE AMOUNT OF COAL PRODUCED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. THIS PAPER THEREFORE INVESTIGATES THE MAJOR CAUSES OF THE DECLINE OF THE NIGERIA COAL INDUSTRY AND PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR GREATER(IMPROVED) PERFORMANCE. |
| Keywords: | NIGERIA, COAL, INDUSTRY, MINING, COSTING, PRODUCTION, MARKET, REVITALIZATION SCHEME, PERFORMANCE, ANALYSIS, ENUGU |
| JEL: | D40 D24 M10 L10 L70 Q30 |
| Date: | 2005–01–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpio:0501002&r=afr |
| By: | DR. GODWIN CHUKWUDUM NWAOBI (QUANTITATIVE ECONOMIC RESEARCH BUREAU, NIGERIA) |
| Abstract: | OIL AS AN ENERGY PROPELLER, IS THE LARGEST INTERNATIONALLY TRADED COMMODITY THAT SHOWS HIGHLY VISIBLE INTERPLAY OF POLITICS AND ECONOMICS IN THE DETERMINATION OF ITS INVESTMENT, PRODUCTION, TRADE AND PRICING POLICIES. THIS UNIQUENESS, NO DOUBT DEMANDS A WELL ARTICULATED OIL POLICY FOR AN OIL PRODUCING NATION. THUS, THE THRUST OF THE PAPER WAS TO EVALUATE THE STATE OF THE NIGERIA'S OIL POLICY IN THE 1970S/80S. THIS PAPER THEREFORE ARGUES THAT IN THE OIL POLICY FORMULATION PROCESS, WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS WHOSE DECISIONS AND PARTICIPATION HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON OIL INDUSTRY, AND WHO WANT TO SEE CLEAR TARGETS AND MINIMISE RISKS. |
| Keywords: | NIGERIA, ECONOMY, OIL, POLICY, ENVIRONMENT, NNPC, POLLUTANTS, OPEC, WORLDBANK,ENERGY, PETROLEUM, GOVERNMENT |
| JEL: | E60 F10 L70 L72 N50 N70 Q30 Q40 |
| Date: | 2005–01–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwppe:0501001&r=afr |
| By: | DR. GODWIN CHUKWUDUM NWAOBI (QUANTITATIVE ECONOMIC RESEARCH BUREAU, NIGERIA) |
| Abstract: | THIS PAPER ENUNERATES THE SEQUENTIAL HISTORIC ORIGIN OF OSUMENYI VILLAGE AND ITS CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND ECONOMIC PRACTICES. IN OTHERWORDS, THE PAPER WILL HELP TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE SOCIO-POLITICAL CHANGES AND ECONOMIC CHANGES THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN OSUMENYI'S HISTORY. THE PAPER RECOMMENDS THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EXPOIT THE IMPORTANT ECONOMIC CROPS FOUND AT OSUMENYI WHILE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURES TO THE PEOPLE. |
| Keywords: | OSUMENYI, AMAKOM, NNEWI, ANAMBRA, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, CUSTOMS, RELIGION, AGRICULTURE, TRADE |
| JEL: | H70 Z10 R50 R10 N00 |
| Date: | 2005–01–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpur:0501001&r=afr |
| By: | T. S. Jayne (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan State University); Marcela Villarreal; Prabhu Pingali; Günter Hemrich |
| Abstract: | This paper considers how the design of agricultural policies and programmes might be modified to better achieve policy objectives in the context of severe HIV epidemics and underscores the central role of agricultural policy in mitigating the spread and impacts of the epidemic. Based on projections of future demographic change in the hardest-hit countries of eastern and southern Africa, HIV/AIDS is likely to have the following effects on the agricultural sector: (1) increased rural inequality caused by disproportionately severe effects of AIDS on relatively poor households; (2) a reduction in household assets and wealth, leading to less capital-intensive cropping systems for severely affected communities and households; and (3) problems in transferring knowledge of crop husbandry and marketing to the succeeding generation of African farmers. It is argued that -- even though the absolute number of working age adults in the hardest-hit countries is projected to remain roughly the same over the next two decades -- the cost of labour in agriculture may rise in some areas as increasing scarcity of capital (notably, animal draft power for land preparation and weeding) will increase the demand for labour in agricultural production or shift agricultural systems to less labour- and capital-intensive crops. |
| Keywords: | food security, food security, agricultural policy, HIV/AIDS, structural transformation, production factors |
| JEL: | Q18 J43 O12 |
| Date: | 2004 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:idppap:025&r=afr |
| By: | Lorenz Blume (Department of Economics, University of Kassel); Stefan Voigt (Department of Economics, University of Kassel and ICER, Torino) |
| Abstract: | Economists are often skeptical concerning the economic effects of various forms of human rights: it has been argued that basic human rights can make the legal system less efficient but also that extensive social rights are incompatible with market economies. It is argued here that basic human rights are a precondition for other kinds of rights such as property and civil rights and that they are thus efficiency-enhancing. Four different groups of rights are identified. It is asked what effects they have on welfare and growth. The transmission channels through which the different rights affect welfare and growth are identified by estimating their effects on investment in both physical and human capital and overall productivity. Basic human rights have indeed a positive effect on investment, but do not seem to contribute to productivity. Social or emancipatory rights, in turn, are not conducive to investment in physical capital but do contribute to productivity improvements. None of the four groups of rights ever has a significant negative effect on any of the economic variables here included. |
| JEL: | H41 H73 K10 O11 O57 P14 P51 |
| Date: | 2004–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kas:wpaper:66/04&r=afr |