Sources of Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author/Editor:

Brou E Aka ; Bernardin Akitoby ; Amor Tahari ; Dhaneshwar Ghura

Publication Date:

September 1, 2004

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

Analysis of 1960-2002 data shows that average real GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa was low and decelerated continuously before starting to recover in the second part of the 1990s. Growth was driven primarily by factor accumulation with little role for total factor productivity (TFP) growth. The recent pickup in economic growth was accompanied by an increase in TFP growth, namely in the group of countries whose IMF-supported programs were judged to be on track. Average annual growth in the region, at 3½ percent during 1997-2002, is less than half of the estimated growth needed to halve the fraction of population living below $1 per day between 1990 and 2015, one of the Millennium Development Goals.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2004/176

Subject:

Economic growth Growth accounting Labor Production Total factor productivity

English

Publication Date:

September 1, 2004

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451858846/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA1762004

Pages:

31

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