Parties or Portfolio? The Economic Consequences of Africa’s Big Cabinets

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Carl LeVan ◽  
Assen Assenov
Keyword(s):  
Party System ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Colonial Legacy ◽  
Policy Performance ◽  
Coalition Governments ◽  
Size Constraints ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data

Does cabinet size have an impact on economic policy in Africa? The average number of ministers has increased steadily for four decades, yet we know little about the economic effects of new portfolios, despite popular complaints about costly cabinets. Comparative studies generate conflicting expectations, either blaming coalition governments for patronage or crediting them with economic restraint. Using data on 45 Sub-Saharan African countries between 1971 and 2006, our empirical analysis links parties and portfolios to budgetary policy performance. We show that cabinets with more ministries are associated with budget surpluses, but they are also slightly more likely to engage in patronage spending. Next, we find that cabinets governing through multiparty coalitions have no consistent impact on budget surpluses. However, they are strongly associated with less extractive government and lower rates of patronage spending compared with single-party cabinets. These results hold after controlling for the type of colonial legacy, economic conditions, population size, constraints on executives, level of democracy, oil income, type of party system and ethnic and religious fractionalization. We conclude that parties and portfolios are both important but they have different effects: adding portfolios to the cabinet may improve economic outcomes by enhancing specialization, but governance through multiparty cabinets generates incentives to both limit extraction and restrain patronage spending.

Conceiving of Contraception: World Society, Cultural Resistance, and Contraceptive Use, 1970–2012

Social Forces ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wade M Cole ◽  
Claudia Geist
Keyword(s):  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
World Society ◽  
Modern Contraceptive ◽  
Cultural Resistance ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Orthodox Christian ◽  
Cultural Effects ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Taking world society theory as our point of departure, we examine the effect of world culture on contraceptive use rates around the world. World-cultural rhetoric frames contraception as a necessity for economic development, a human rights issue, and a women’s health matter. Using data on contraceptive use among married women for a sample of 159 countries over the period from 1970 to 2012, we find that linkages to all three sets of discourses are associated with increased use of modern contraceptive methods, over and above countries’ sociocultural and economic characteristics. Nevertheless, we also find that world society influences vary across major cultural zones, defined in terms of predominant religions and geographic regions. World cultural effects are strongest in Orthodox Christian, Hindu, non-Western Protestant, and sub-Saharan African countries. There is no effect in Western and East Asian countries, where contraceptive use is comparatively high, or in zones such as non-Western Catholic nations, where the unmet need for contraception is often greatest. Compared to development and women’s rights rhetoric, health-based frames appear to have the broadest and most effective reach across cultural divides. Overall, however, we find that world society processes tend to produce cross-cultural convergence in contraceptive use rates.

scholarly journals Exploring retailer marketing strategies for value added bean products in Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-687
Author(s):  
Florence Nakazi ◽  
Immaculate Babirye ◽  
Eliud Birachi ◽  
Michael Adrogu Ugen
Keyword(s):  
Marketing Strategy ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Market Value ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Market Value Added ◽  
Using Data

Unlike many other Sub-Saharan African countries, for many years Kenya had comparative advantages in the manufacturing of processed bean products. However, for new competitors intending to join the bean processing industry, little is known about marketing strategies for value added bean products. Using data from 90 retailers in the Nairobi and Kiambu counties in Kenya, a two-step econometric procedure-multivariate probit and Poisson regression models were applied to analyse retailers’ marketing strategy decisions. Findings show that information sources, cost of marketing, supply modalities, price of products, and quantities handled significantly influenced retailers’ marketing strategy choice. Surveyed retailers applied varying marketing strategies to market value added bean products. There is need for prospective retailers to choose an appropriate mix of strategies to penetrate the dynamic market with a number of value added bean products, and promote local consumption of value added bean products.

scholarly journals Contribution of Internationalisation to SME Growth: Evidence from the Kenyan Manufacturing Sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-272
Author(s):  
Kulondwa Safari
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Least Square ◽  
African Countries ◽  
East African Community ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Sub-Saharan African countries are among the poorest countries in the world and there is a need to develop their economies. Researchers suggest the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to foster economic development in countries. Internationalisation has been proved to be a key strategy for SME growth. This study investigates the effect of internationalisation on manufacturing SME growth in Kenya. Kenya is a developing country and the leading economy in the East African community. Using data from the World Bank enterprise survey, a sample of 94 SMEs operating in Kenya between 2013 and 2018 was selected. Multiple linear regression analysis using ordinary least square (OLS) was applied and the results revealed that internationalisation through direct exports contributed positively to the growth of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya. The findings of the study suggest that policy makers should promote internationalisation of SMEs in Kenya to improve the doing business environment in general and remove external barriers to internationalisation of SMEs at the national and international level in particular.

scholarly journals Washington Consensus Reforms and Lessons for Economic Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-156
Author(s):  
Belinda Archibong ◽  
Brahima Coulibaly ◽  
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Trade Openness ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Washington Consensus ◽  
Fiscal Discipline ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Performance ◽  
Real Gdp ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Sub Saharan

Over three decades after market-oriented structural reforms termed “Washington Consensus” policies were first implemented, we revisit the evidence on policy adoption and the effects of these policies on socio-economic performance in sub-Saharan African countries. We focus on three key ubiquitous reform policies around privatization, fiscal discipline, and trade openness and document significant improvements in economic performance for reformers over the past two decades. Following initial declines in per capita economic growth over the 1980s and 1990s, reform adopters experienced notable increases in per capita real GDP growth in the post-2000 period. We complement aggregate analysis with four country case studies that highlight important lessons for effective reform. Notably, the ability to implement pro-poor policies alongside market-oriented reforms played a central role in successful policy performance.

scholarly journals Fertile Ground for Conflict

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Berman ◽  
Mathieu Couttenier ◽  
Raphael Soubeyran
Keyword(s):  
Civil Wars ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Civil Conflicts ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Combine Information ◽  
Input Prices

Abstract We investigate how variations in soil productivity affect civil conflicts. We first present a model with heterogeneous land in which variations in input prices (fertilizers) affect appropriable rents and the opportunity costs of fighting. The theory predicts that spikes in input prices increase the likelihood of conflicts through their effect on income and inequality, and that this effect is magnified when soil fertility is naturally more heterogeneous. We test these predictions using data on conflict events covering all Sub-Saharan African countries at a spatial resolution of 0.5 $\times$ 0.5 degree latitude and longitude over the 1997–2013 period. We combine information on soil characteristics and worldwide variations in fertilizer prices to identify local exogenous changes in input costs. As predicted, variations in soil productivity triggered by variations in fertilizer prices are positively associated with conflicts, especially in cells where land endowments are more heterogeneous. In addition, we find that the distribution of land fertility both within and across ethnic groups affects violence, and that the effect of between-group heterogeneity in soil quality is magnified in densely populated areas. Overall, our findings imply that inequality in access to fertile areas—an issue largely neglected in the literature dealing with the roots of Sub-Saharan African civil wars—constitutes a serious threat to peace at the local level.

Natural Disasters and International Migration from Sub-Saharan Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim Naudé
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Subsequent Period ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data

This paper employs a systems GMM model using data on 43 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1960 to 2005 to find that natural disasters have a significant impact on migration from SSA, raising the net out-migration by around 0.37 persons per 1,000. No direct evidence was found that natural disasters lead to further migration through impacting on GDP growth. It is however established that natural disasters is associated with a slightly increased probability that a country will be in conflict in a subsequent period. The frequency of natural disasters will not influence the duration of the conflict. It is concluded that natural disasters is an important determinant of migration from SSA. The findings in this paper imply that global climate change, through leading to more extreme weather events, will contribute to further migration from the continent.

Access to drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa: does the developmental state doctrine matter?

2020 ◽  
pp. 002085232093006
Author(s):  
Bacha Kebede Debela ◽  
Geert Bouckaert ◽  
Steve Troupin
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Developmental State ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Drinking Water Sources ◽  
Developmental States ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data

Using data from 14 sub-Saharan African countries, this study investigates the relevance of the developmental state doctrine to enhancing access to improved drinking water sources and to reducing urban–rural inequalities in access to improved sources and piped-on premises. Although access to improved water sources and urban–rural inequality seems better in developmental states than in non-developmental states, we have not found sufficient support for the claim that the developmental state approach is the best alternative. The influence of corruption is, unexpectedly, higher in developmental states than in non-developmental states. Moreover, both developmental states and non-developmental states were not significantly investing in access to drinking water supply programs. We find that the total population growth rate is the strongest predictor, rather than regime type. Other factors that explain the variation between all samples of developmental states and non-developmental states are identified and discussed, and implications are outlined. Points for practitioners There is significant variation in access to improved drinking water sources and urban–rural inequalities in access to improved sources and piped-on premises between developmental states and non-developmental states. The relevance of the developmental state doctrine to improving access to drinking water, reducing socio-economic inequalities in access to drinking water, and realizing Sustainable Development Goal targets in sub-Saharan Africa is ambiguous. We advise strengthening a functional Weberian bureaucracy and promoting political decentralization.

scholarly journals Financial Development and Poverty in Developing Countries: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pam Zahonogo
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Financial Development ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Method Of Moment ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Poverty Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Poverty Indicators

The paper investigates how financial development affects poverty indicators in developing countries. We implement this analysis with a poverty model using data from 42 Sub-Saharan African countries and covering the period 1980-2012. We employ the System Generalized Method-of-Moment (GMM) that is appropriate to control country specific effects and the possible endogeneity. The empirical evidence shows that there indeed exists a financial development threshold below which financial development has detrimental effects on poor and above which financial development could be associated with less poverty. The evidence then points an inverted U curve type response and the findings are robust to changes in poverty measures and to alternative model specifications, suggesting thus the non-fragility of the linkage between financial development and poverty for sub-Saharan African countries. Our findings are then promising and support the view that the relation between financial development and poverty reduction is not linear for sub-Saharan African countries.

EU Sanitary Standards and Sub-Saharan African Agricultural Exports: A Case Study of the Livestock Sector in East Africa

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melaku Geboye Desta
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Poor People ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Livestock Products ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

For most sub-Saharan African countries, participation in international trade almost always means exporting primary, often agricultural, products and importing machinery and other manufacturing goods. In appreciation of the detrimental economic effects of this situation on SSA countries, the EU has had one of the oldest and most generous preferential schemes for the benefit of these countries. This article argues, based on detailed analysis of EU food import law and its application to livestock products coming from East Africa, that these otherwise generous preferential schemes have been deprived of any effect by the stringent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements that are beyond the capacity of the producers in these countries to satisfy. It further argues that the current approach of the WTO system regarding SPS issues, which leaves countries free to impose standards of their choosing without any regard for the impact of such measures on the lives of producers in other countries, only accords a convenient blanket with which to wrap measures otherwise motivated by protectionist interests. It concludes that the only way the EU or any other country could support the SSA agricultural sector and the large number of poor people working in it is by helping governments and producers to enhance their production standards.

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