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The bias against agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Has it survived 20 years of structural adjustment programs?

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  • Thiele, Rainer

Abstract

This paper deals with the question of whether the discrimination against agriculture that prevailed in Sub-Saharan Africa until the early 1980s has continued to characterize the region despite the widespread adoption of structural adjustment programs. The evolution of both direct interventions in agricultural markets and the indirect effects resulting from overvalued exchange rates and import substitution policies is evaluated empirically. It turns out that the taxation of export crops has become less severe but is still significant in most producing countries, and that progress in eliminating macroeconomic distortions has differed enormously between countries, with a slightly positive overall trend.

Suggested Citation

  • Thiele, Rainer, 2002. "The bias against agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Has it survived 20 years of structural adjustment programs?," Kiel Working Papers 1102, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:1102
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/2750/1/kap1102.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jan Willem Gunning & Paul Collier, 1999. "Explaining African Economic Performance," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 37(1), pages 64-111, March.
    2. Thiele, Rainer, 2000. "Estimating the aggregate agricultural supply response: a survey of techniques and results for developing countries," Kiel Working Papers 1016, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    3. Ghura, Dhaneshwar & Grennes, Thomas J., 1993. "The real exchange rate and macroeconomic performance in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 155-174, October.
    4. Cottani, Joaquin A & Cavallo, Domingo F & Khan, M Shahbaz, 1990. "Real Exchange Rate Behavior and Economic Performance in LDCs," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 39(1), pages 61-76, October.
    5. Wiebelt, Manfred & Herrmann, Roland & Schenck, Patricia & Thiele, Rainer, 1992. "Discrimination against agriculture in developing countries?," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 458, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Rainer Thiele, 2003. "Price Incentives, Non‐price Factors and Agricultural Production in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A Cointegration Analysis," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 15(2‐3), pages 425-438.
    2. Richard Grabowski, 2010. "A comparison of Latin American and African economic development with an East Asian twist," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 24(2), pages 104-116, November.
    3. Kym Anderson & Ernesto Valenzuela, 2007. "Do Global Trade Distortions Still Harm Developing Country Farmers?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 143(1), pages 108-139, April.
    4. Kym Anderson, 2006. "Reducing Distortions to Agricultural Incentives: Progress, Pitfalls, and Prospects," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 88(5), pages 1135-1146.
    5. Kym Anderson & Will Martin & Dominique van der Mensbrugghe, 2006. "Distortions to World Trade: Impacts on Agricultural Markets and Farm Incomes," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 28(2), pages 168-194.
    6. Rakotoarisoa, M.A. & Randriamamonjy, J., 2018. "Assessing Agricultural Policy for Targeted Reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277309, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Clodine S. Mbuli & Lotsmart N. Fonjong & Amber J. Fletcher, 2021. "Climate Change and Small Farmers’ Vulnerability to Food Insecurity in Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, February.
    8. Nunnenkamp, Peter & Thiele, Rainer, 2004. "Strategien zur Bekämpfung der weltweiten Armut: Irrwege, Umwege und Auswege," Kiel Discussion Papers 407, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural Pricing Policies; Exchange Rate Misalignment; Sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange

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