Economic Trends in Africa: The Economic Performance of Sub-Saharan African Countries

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.

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Productive Government Expenditure and Economic Performance in sub-Saharan Africa: An Empirical Investigation

Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business ◽

10.1515/zireb-2016-0005 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Hammed Adetola Adefeso

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Economic Performance ◽

Government Expenditure ◽

Dynamic Panel Data ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Tax Revenue ◽

African Countries ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Generalised Method Of Moments ◽

Productive Government Expenditure

Abstract This study examined the effect of government expenditure on its disaggregated level on economic growth in a sample of 20 sub-Saharan African Countries over the period of 1980-2010 in a dynamic panel data model. The result from Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) revealed an inverse relationship between productive government expenditure and economic growth in sub-Sahara Africa. Also, productive government expenditures were not actually productive most especially when financed by non-distortonary government tax revenue in sub-Saharan African countries. The study concluded that the productive government expenditure and its corresponding source of the mode of financing were counterproductive for economic performance in the African countries.

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Natural gas consumption and economic performance in selected sub‐Saharan African countries: A heterogeneous panel ARDL analysis

African Development Review ◽

10.1111/1467-8268.12591 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Victoria Oluwatoyin Foye ◽

Oluwasegun Olawale Benjamin

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Economic Performance ◽

African Countries ◽

Panel Ardl ◽

Gas Consumption ◽

Natural Gas Consumption ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Heterogeneous Panel

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GDP Structure and Economic Performance in Sub-Saharan Countries

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun201462040729 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 729-747

Author(s):

Luboš Smutka ◽

Karel Tomšík

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Civil Wars ◽

Economic Performance ◽

Point Of View ◽

Living Standards ◽

African Countries ◽

Services Sector ◽

The World ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

High Level

Africa belongs to important regions of the world economy with specific problems distinguishing this part of the world from other regions. The region is suffering because of limited economy structure and high level of poverty. Low economic performance ranks most of African countries among the worldwide poorest ones (both from the point of view of total economy performance and also individuals living standards); the development is hindered by political instability and also by other accompanied problems as high level of corruption, deficit of democracy, low level of education, limited investments, criminality, local conflicts, civil wars etc. On the other hand, African natural, economy and social resources and unexploited opportunities in many areas offer a potential for a considerable economic development. Understanding the current economic position of African states thus may reveal causes of problematic development and outline ways to overcome existing shortcomings. The aim of the paper is to analyze main changes in area of GDP structure formation (agricultural, industrial and services sector share in GDP and value performance) which have occurred in selected African (Sub-Saharan) countries. Changes are analyzed both in relation to the total GDP and GDP per capita. The authors identify main trends of economic development in the Sub-Saharan region and to specify differences among Sub-Saharan countries with the intention to identify particular groups of African countries according to their economic structure and to identify differences in their GDP formation.

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The nexus of environmental sustainability and agro-economic performance of Sub-Saharan African countries

Heliyon ◽

10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04878 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (9) ◽

pp. e04878 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Festus Fatai Adedoyin ◽

Andrew Adewale Alola ◽

Festus Victor Bekun

Keyword(s):

Economic Performance ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

African Countries ◽

Sub Saharan

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Guinea's Economic Performance Under Structural Adjustment: Importance of Mining and Agriculture

The Journal of Modern African Studies ◽

10.1017/s0022278x00021194 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 425-449 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Bonnie Campbell ◽

Jennifer Clapp

Keyword(s):

World Bank ◽

Economic Performance ◽

Structural Adjustment ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African Countries ◽

The World Bank ◽

The World ◽

The Face ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Structural Adjustment Programmes

Domestic policy inadequacies have been targeted by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the main reason for poor economic performance in sub-Saharan Africa generally.1 The structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) sponsored by these international financial institutions (IFIs) over the past decade have sought to rectify such policies. But many countries following their advice have continued to experience economic decline, albeit according to the World Bank, as a result primarily of their failure to properly implement the recommended reforms. It was argued in the late 1980s and early 1990S that governments pursuing strong adjustment programmes, even in the face of inhospitable world economic conditions, still outperformed weak reformers.2 This analysis does not hold with the same weight for all African countries. In the case of Guinea, external factors have been equally important in explaining its economic record under adjustment.

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