Telecommunications Services in Africa: The Impact of WTO Commitments and Unilateral Reform on Sector Performance and Economic Growth

Calvin Djiofack-Zebaze and Alexander Keck
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Calvin Djiofack-Zebaze: CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International - UdA - Université d'Auvergne - Clermont-Ferrand I - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: We examine the impact of telecommunications liberalization in Africa on sectoral performance and economic growth. Besides unilateral measures, we account for WTO commitments fostering the credibility of reforms. Regulatory quality plays a major role in bringing down prices and improving access to telecommunications services in Africa. Competition, notably in the mobile segment, also improves sector performance. Increasing access to mobile networks by 1% translates into a 0.5% increase in real GDP per capita. In Africa, multilateral commitments do not reflect recent reforms. However, globally, adherence to the GATS Reference Paper is associated with lower prices.

Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published in World Development, 2009, 37 (5), pp.919-940

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00387976

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