Origins of the Gold Coast Cocoa Industry: Example of a Vent-for-Surplus?

Itinerario ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.S. Hogendorn ◽  
M. Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Economic History ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Gold Coast ◽  
Historical Evidence

There is an interesting and long-standing controversy over the applicability of the vent-for-surplus model to the growth of the Gold Coast cocoa industry around the turn of the century. This debate has important implications both for African economic history and for current issues of resource allocation in developing countries. Our paper attempts to clarify the elements of the debate by applying to each ele-ment a production-possibilities model, using historical evidence to verify where possible the validity of the analysis.

scholarly journals Mixed Methods Research in Developing Country Contexts: Lessons From Field Research in Six Countries Across Africa and the Caribbean

2021 ◽  
pp. 155868982110328
Author(s):  
Jamelia Harris
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
The Caribbean

Mixed methods research in developing countries has been increasing since the turn of the century. Given this, there is need to consolidate insights for future researchers. This article contributes to the methodological literature by exploring how cultural factors and logistical challenges in developing contexts interplay with mixed methods research design and implementation. Insights are based on the author’s research experience of using mixed methods in six projects across three African and three Caribbean countries. Three lessons are provided to aid researchers using mixed methods working in developing countries. First, cultural factors call for more reflexivity. Second, adopting a pragmatic research paradigm is necessary. And third, the research process should be iterative and adaptive.

THE IMPACTS OF BIASED RESOURCE ALLOCATION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (01) ◽  
pp. 239-256
Author(s):  
SUNG-KO LI ◽  
CHUN-KEI TSANG
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Development Assistance ◽  
Official Development Assistance ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Allocation Of Resources ◽  
Negative Impacts

Many developing countries are receiving official development assistance (ODA). Whether ODA is beneficial or harmful to the receiving country is controversial in the literature. This paper analyzes this issue from a new angle by adopting the framework of competitiveness which allows us to link resource allocation with economic growth. Under this framework, we point out that the mechanism of resource allocation influences the effectiveness of ODA on economic growth. By applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) to competitiveness, we capture the effects of inefficient and biased allocation of resources on ODA. The data confirm the co-existence of positive and negative impacts of ODA. Finally, we conclude that current ODA is not efficient in helping most of the receiving countries.

Innovation and Patents in American Economic History

2018 ◽  
pp. 2-22
Author(s):  
Petra Moser
Keyword(s):  
Technical Change ◽  
Economic History ◽  
Innovative Activity ◽  
World's Fair ◽  
Historical Evidence ◽  
Crystal Palace ◽  
Patent Laws ◽  
Alternative Measures

This chapter summarizes historical evidence on the link between patent laws and innovation. Earlier historical analyses have emphasized the importance of patent laws in encouraging innovation. Data on exhibits at international technology fairs, such as the 1851 Crystal Palace world’s fair, however, indicate that only a small share of innovations are patented and that non-patent mechanisms may play an important role in encouraging innovation. They also show that inventors’ dependency on patents varies strongly across industries, so that radical changes in patent laws may influence the direction, if not the level, of technical change. Exhibition data also indicate that patents may play an important role in facilitating the diffusion of innovative activity by encouraging inventors to advertise their ideas. These results highlight the need for additional analyses of innovation that systematically analyze patents and alternative measures of innovation.

Allocative inefficiency, X-inefficiency, Bureaucracy and Corruption in Developing Countries

1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-79
Author(s):  
Geoff Harris
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Allocative Efficiency ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Economic Decision ◽  
Factors Of Production ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Allocative Inefficiency

Economists have traditionally been concerned with allocative efficiency, that is, with trying to make sure that the various factors of production are allocated so that the cost of any given output is minimized. Thus, they have emphasized the importance of ‘getting the prices right’ so that these reflect the relative scarcities of inputs in the economy and give the right signals, as regards resource allocation, to economic decision-makers. From the mid-1960s, Harvey Leibenstein has drawn attention to what he has termed X-inefficiencies which derive from non-price factors such as protection/shelter of enterprises from competition, inertia on the part of managers and limited effort by workers. This article examines the relative importance of allocative inefficiency, X-inefficiency, bureaucracy and corruption in LDCs. It finds that X-inefficiencies in developing countries are far more important than allocative inefficiencies. In addition, the inefficiencies resulting from each of bureaucracy and corruption, whilst difficult to measure, are at the very least as important as allocative inefficiencies and probably much more important. It also appears that X-inefficiencies are easier and less costly to reduce than allocative inefficiencies.

Book Reviews

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 1189-1191
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Economic History ◽  
Professor Emeritus ◽  
The West ◽  
Catching Up ◽  
History Of ◽  
Great Divergence ◽  
The Difference

Branko Milanovic, a Presidential Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center, reviews “Mixed Fortunes: An Economic History of China, Russia, and the West”, by Vladimir Popov. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Provides an interpretation of the ""Great Divergence" and the ""Great Convergence" stories, analyzing why Western countries grew rich and developing countries struggled to keep up, focusing on China and Russia. Discusses how the West became rich--stylized facts and a literature review; why the West became rich first and why some developing countries are catching up, while others are not; Chinese and Russian economies under central planning--why the difference in outcomes?; Chinese and Russian economies since reforms--transformational recession in Russia and acceleration of growth in China; and growth miracles and failures--lessons for development economics. Popov is with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, Professor Emeritus at the New Economic School in Moscow, and Professor in the Graduate School of International Business at the Russian Presidential Academy of the National Economy and Public Administration in Moscow.”

Resource allocation for R&D projects in developing countries

1971 ◽  
Vol EM-18 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Adke ◽  
J. V. Rajan ◽  
S. K. Subramanian
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Developing Countries
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