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Exchange Rate Liberalization in Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries Successes, Failures, and Lessons

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  • Mr. Nils O Maehle
  • Ms. Haimanot Teferra
  • Armine Khachatryan

Abstract

Many sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries liberalized their economies in the 1980s and early 1990s. This paper reviews the foreign exchange regime reforms in selected SSA, and their associated macroeconomic policies and economic performance during and after these reforms were undertaken. Before liberalization, most of the reviewed countries were characterized by extensive foreign exchange rationing, sizeable black market premiums, and declining per capita real income. Today, the countries that successfully reformed look markedly different. Rationing and parallel market spreads are a distant memory, and per capita income has increased sharply.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Nils O Maehle & Ms. Haimanot Teferra & Armine Khachatryan, 2013. "Exchange Rate Liberalization in Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries Successes, Failures, and Lessons," IMF Working Papers 2013/032, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2013/032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zelealem Yiheyis & Emmanuel Cleeve, 2016. "Dynamics of the Real Exchange Rate, Inflation, and Output Growth: The Case of Malawi," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(10), pages 23-39, October.
    2. Oyenyinka Sunday Omoshoro‐Jones & Lumengo Bonga‐Bonga, 2022. "Intra‐regional spillovers from Nigeria and South Africa to the rest of Africa: New evidence from a FAVAR model," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 251-275, January.
    3. Ramesh C Paudel, 2014. "Export performance in developing countries: A comparative perspective," Departmental Working Papers 2014-26, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    4. Joseph Chukwudi Odionye & Jude Okechukwu Chukwu, 2021. "The Asymmetric Effects Of Currency Devaluation In Selected Sub-Saharan Africa," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 66(230), pages 135-156, July – Se.
    5. Mustapha A. Akinkunmi, 2017. "Rebound Effects of Exchange Rate and Central Bank Interventions in Selected ECOWAS Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(3), pages 489-500.

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