Explaining Africa’s Export Performance – Taking a New Look

Oliver Morrissey and Andrew Mold

No 331489, Conference papers from Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project

Abstract: Africa’s export performance over recent decades is typically portrayed as being poor. This paper takes a new look at the record, using data on the volume rather than the value of African exports. When analysed in volume terms a quite different picture of African export performance emerges. According to UNCTAD data, between 1990-2002 the export volumes for non-oil exporters actually increased by over 130%. This impressive supply-side performance has not been properly documented. Previous studies have fixed too much attention to the value of African exports, something which, as primary commodity exporters, is largely beyond their control. The study uses estimates of volume of exports, available from UNCTAD, to explain African trade performance. Using a dynamic panel data analysis for 48 African countries over the period 1987-2002, the key determinants of export performance are ascertained. The implications of the findings for policy makers are subsequently discussed.

Keywords: International Development; International Relations/Trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28
Date: 2006
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/331489/files/2274.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:pugtwp:331489

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Conference papers from Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by AgEcon Search ().