Mauritius: African Success Story

Jeffrey Frankel

No 16569, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: What explains the success of Mauritius, a top performer among African countries? It has mostly followed growth-enhancing policies, which can in turn be attributed to sound institutions. But from where did the institutions come? Mauritius chose well around the time of independence in 1968, for example opting for the rule of law over nationalization of its sugar plantations. Some fundamental determinants that econometrically can explain success worldwide do not work within Africa: size, remoteness, tropics, and ethnic fragmentation. An intriguing theory: small islands that were populated entirely by immigrants escape the ethnic conflict that arises when one group is indigenous.

JEL-codes: O1 O55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr and nep-his
Note: IFM
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

Published as Mauritius: African Success Story , Jeffrey Frankel. in African Successes, Volume IV: Sustainable Growth , Edwards, Johnson, and Weil. 2016

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Related works:
Chapter: Mauritius: African Success Story (2014)
Working Paper: Mauritius: African Success Story (2012)
Working Paper: Mauritius: African Success Story (2012)
Working Paper: Mauritius: African Success Story (2010)
Working Paper: Mauritius: African Success Story (2010)
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