Abstract:
The study finds that elite political instability (PI)-the incidence of coups d'etat-has negatively influenced the mapping of GDP growth into economic development, measured as the algebraic difference in the United Nations Human Development Index, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 1970 and 1985. Taking into account the additional adverse impact of PI on economic development through its deleterious influence on economic growth, the study estimates that PI has exacted a substantial toll in SSA's economic development. Copyright 2004 American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Inc..