Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995

Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995

Author: Morten Jerven

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2014-03

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0199689911

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A study of how growth is measured in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. It looks at average economic growth, GDP measurements, and the association, or lack thereof, between economic growth and orthodox economic policies.


Book Synopsis Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995 by : Morten Jerven

Download or read book Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995 written by Morten Jerven and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2014-03 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A study of how growth is measured in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. It looks at average economic growth, GDP measurements, and the association, or lack thereof, between economic growth and orthodox economic policies.


Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995

Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995

Author: Morten Jerven

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2014-03-27

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0191004197

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How do we measure African economic performance? This volume studies how growth is measured in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia and challenges commonly held beliefs of African economic performance. The volume offers a reconsideration of economic growth in Africa in three respects. First, it shows that the focus has been on average economic growth and that there has been no failure of economic growth. In particular the gains made in the 1960s and 1970s have been neglected. Second, it emphasizes that for many countries the decline in economic growth in the 1980s was overstated, as was the improvement in economic growth in the 1990s. The coverage of economic activities in GDP measures is incomplete. In the 1980s many economic activities were increasingly missed in the official records thus the decline in the 1980s was overestimated (resulting from declining coverage) and the increase in the 1990s was overestimated (resulting from increasing coverage). The third important reconsideration is that there is no clear association between economic growth and orthodox economic policies. This is counter to the mainstream interpretation, and suggests that the importance of sound economic policies has been overstated, and that the importance of the external economic conditions have been understated in the prevailing explanation of African economic performance.


Book Synopsis Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995 by : Morten Jerven

Download or read book Economic Growth and Measurement Reconsidered in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, 1965-1995 written by Morten Jerven and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2014-03-27 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How do we measure African economic performance? This volume studies how growth is measured in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia and challenges commonly held beliefs of African economic performance. The volume offers a reconsideration of economic growth in Africa in three respects. First, it shows that the focus has been on average economic growth and that there has been no failure of economic growth. In particular the gains made in the 1960s and 1970s have been neglected. Second, it emphasizes that for many countries the decline in economic growth in the 1980s was overstated, as was the improvement in economic growth in the 1990s. The coverage of economic activities in GDP measures is incomplete. In the 1980s many economic activities were increasingly missed in the official records thus the decline in the 1980s was overestimated (resulting from declining coverage) and the increase in the 1990s was overestimated (resulting from increasing coverage). The third important reconsideration is that there is no clear association between economic growth and orthodox economic policies. This is counter to the mainstream interpretation, and suggests that the importance of sound economic policies has been overstated, and that the importance of the external economic conditions have been understated in the prevailing explanation of African economic performance.


African economic growth reconsidered

African economic growth reconsidered

Author: Morten Jerven

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 504

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis African economic growth reconsidered by : Morten Jerven

Download or read book African economic growth reconsidered written by Morten Jerven and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 504 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


The Wealth and Poverty of African States

The Wealth and Poverty of African States

Author: Morten Jerven

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2022-01-13

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13: 1108424597

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A new account of economic performance and state development in African countries across the long twentieth century.


Book Synopsis The Wealth and Poverty of African States by : Morten Jerven

Download or read book The Wealth and Poverty of African States written by Morten Jerven and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2022-01-13 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A new account of economic performance and state development in African countries across the long twentieth century.


Statistical Tragedy in Africa?

Statistical Tragedy in Africa?

Author: Morten Jerven

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-10-02

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 1317369343

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What do we know about economic development in Africa? The answer is that we know much less than we would like to think. This collection assesses the knowledge problem present in statistics on poverty, agriculture, labour, education, health, and economic growth. While diverse in origin, the contributors to this book are unified in two conclusions: the quality and quantity of data needs to be improved; and this is a concern not just for statisticians. Weaknesses in statistical methodology and practice can misinform policy makers, international agencies, donors, the private sector, and the citizens of African countries themselves. This is also a problem for academics from various disciplines, from history and economics to social epidemiology and education policy. Not only does academic work on Africa regularly use flawed data, but many problems encountered in surveys challenge common academic abstractions. By exploring these flaws, this book will provide a guide for scholars, policy makers, and all those using and commissioning surveys in Africa. This book was originally published as a special issue of The Journal of Development Studies.


Book Synopsis Statistical Tragedy in Africa? by : Morten Jerven

Download or read book Statistical Tragedy in Africa? written by Morten Jerven and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-10-02 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What do we know about economic development in Africa? The answer is that we know much less than we would like to think. This collection assesses the knowledge problem present in statistics on poverty, agriculture, labour, education, health, and economic growth. While diverse in origin, the contributors to this book are unified in two conclusions: the quality and quantity of data needs to be improved; and this is a concern not just for statisticians. Weaknesses in statistical methodology and practice can misinform policy makers, international agencies, donors, the private sector, and the citizens of African countries themselves. This is also a problem for academics from various disciplines, from history and economics to social epidemiology and education policy. Not only does academic work on Africa regularly use flawed data, but many problems encountered in surveys challenge common academic abstractions. By exploring these flaws, this book will provide a guide for scholars, policy makers, and all those using and commissioning surveys in Africa. This book was originally published as a special issue of The Journal of Development Studies.


Africa

Africa

Author: Assistant Professor Morten Jerven

Publisher: Zed Books Ltd.

Published: 2015-06-11

Total Pages: 167

ISBN-13: 1783601353

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‘A valuable corrective to the fraying narrative of [African] failure.’ Foreign Affairs Not so long ago, Africa was being described as the hopeless continent. Recently, though, talk has turned to Africa rising, with enthusiastic voices exclaiming the potential for economic growth across many of its countries. What, then, is the truth behind Africa’s growth, or lack of it? In this provocative book, Morten Jerven fundamentally reframes the debate, challenging mainstream accounts of African economic history. Whilst for the past two decades experts have focused on explaining why there has been a ‘chronic failure of growth’ in Africa, Jerven shows that most African economies have been growing at a rapid pace since the mid nineties. In addition, African economies grew rapidly in the fifties, the sixties, and even into the seventies. Thus, African states were dismissed as incapable of development based largely on observations made during the 1980s and early 1990s. The result has been misguided analysis, and few practical lessons learned. This is an essential account of the real impact economic growth has had on Africa, and what it means for the continent’s future.


Book Synopsis Africa by : Assistant Professor Morten Jerven

Download or read book Africa written by Assistant Professor Morten Jerven and published by Zed Books Ltd.. This book was released on 2015-06-11 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘A valuable corrective to the fraying narrative of [African] failure.’ Foreign Affairs Not so long ago, Africa was being described as the hopeless continent. Recently, though, talk has turned to Africa rising, with enthusiastic voices exclaiming the potential for economic growth across many of its countries. What, then, is the truth behind Africa’s growth, or lack of it? In this provocative book, Morten Jerven fundamentally reframes the debate, challenging mainstream accounts of African economic history. Whilst for the past two decades experts have focused on explaining why there has been a ‘chronic failure of growth’ in Africa, Jerven shows that most African economies have been growing at a rapid pace since the mid nineties. In addition, African economies grew rapidly in the fifties, the sixties, and even into the seventies. Thus, African states were dismissed as incapable of development based largely on observations made during the 1980s and early 1990s. The result has been misguided analysis, and few practical lessons learned. This is an essential account of the real impact economic growth has had on Africa, and what it means for the continent’s future.


Rethinking Economic Growth Theory From a Biophysical Perspective

Rethinking Economic Growth Theory From a Biophysical Perspective

Author: Blair Fix

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-12-09

Total Pages: 129

ISBN-13: 3319128264

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Neoclassical growth theory is the dominant perspective for explaining economic growth. At its core are four implicit assumptions: 1) economic output can become decoupled from energy consumption; 2) economic distribution is unrelated to growth; 3) large institutions are not important for growth; and 4) labor force structure is not important for growth. Drawing on a wide range of data from the economic history of the United States, this book tests the validity of these assumptions and finds no empirical support. Instead, connections are found between the growth in energy consumption and such disparate phenomena as economic redistribution, corporate employment concentration, and changing labor force structure. The integration of energy into an economic growth model has the potential to offer insight into the future effects of fossil fuel depletion on key macroeconomic indicators, which is already manifested in stalled or diminished growth and escalating debt in many national economies. This book argues for an alternative, biophysical perspective to the study of growth, and presents a set of "stylized facts" that such an approach must successfully explain. Aspects of biophysical analysis are combined with differential monetary analysis to arrive at a unique empirical methodology for investigating the elements and dependencies of the economic growth process.


Book Synopsis Rethinking Economic Growth Theory From a Biophysical Perspective by : Blair Fix

Download or read book Rethinking Economic Growth Theory From a Biophysical Perspective written by Blair Fix and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-12-09 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Neoclassical growth theory is the dominant perspective for explaining economic growth. At its core are four implicit assumptions: 1) economic output can become decoupled from energy consumption; 2) economic distribution is unrelated to growth; 3) large institutions are not important for growth; and 4) labor force structure is not important for growth. Drawing on a wide range of data from the economic history of the United States, this book tests the validity of these assumptions and finds no empirical support. Instead, connections are found between the growth in energy consumption and such disparate phenomena as economic redistribution, corporate employment concentration, and changing labor force structure. The integration of energy into an economic growth model has the potential to offer insight into the future effects of fossil fuel depletion on key macroeconomic indicators, which is already manifested in stalled or diminished growth and escalating debt in many national economies. This book argues for an alternative, biophysical perspective to the study of growth, and presents a set of "stylized facts" that such an approach must successfully explain. Aspects of biophysical analysis are combined with differential monetary analysis to arrive at a unique empirical methodology for investigating the elements and dependencies of the economic growth process.


Historical Dictionary of Botswana

Historical Dictionary of Botswana

Author: Barry Morton

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2018-06-13

Total Pages: 507

ISBN-13: 1538111330

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The death of Botswana’s last founding father, Sir Ketumile Quett Masire, in June 2017, marked the end of an era. Since the release of the Fourth Edition of Historical Dictionary of Botswana in 2008, Botswana has gone through its most turbulent and divided decade to date. Throughout September 2016, when Botswana celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, all the successes of the Seretse and Masire era were sources of massive national pride. Botswana had expanded provisions of electricity, water, education, and health services to almost all of its people and become a model nation that owned its natural resources and plowed the profits back into the nation’s development. Despite these successes, Botswana has a high unemployment rate (about 20 percent) and a much larger cohort of the underemployed. This fifth edition of Historical Dictionary of Botswana contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, an extensive bibliography, and more than 700 cross-referenced entries on important personalities and aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Botswana.


Book Synopsis Historical Dictionary of Botswana by : Barry Morton

Download or read book Historical Dictionary of Botswana written by Barry Morton and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2018-06-13 with total page 507 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The death of Botswana’s last founding father, Sir Ketumile Quett Masire, in June 2017, marked the end of an era. Since the release of the Fourth Edition of Historical Dictionary of Botswana in 2008, Botswana has gone through its most turbulent and divided decade to date. Throughout September 2016, when Botswana celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, all the successes of the Seretse and Masire era were sources of massive national pride. Botswana had expanded provisions of electricity, water, education, and health services to almost all of its people and become a model nation that owned its natural resources and plowed the profits back into the nation’s development. Despite these successes, Botswana has a high unemployment rate (about 20 percent) and a much larger cohort of the underemployed. This fifth edition of Historical Dictionary of Botswana contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, an extensive bibliography, and more than 700 cross-referenced entries on important personalities and aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Botswana.


Measuring African Development

Measuring African Development

Author: Morten Jerven

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-04-14

Total Pages: 294

ISBN-13: 1317552989

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The chief economist for the World Bank's Africa region, Shanta Devarajan, delivered a devastating assessment of the capacity of African states to measure development in his 2013 article "Africa's Statistical Tragedy". Is there a "statistical tragedy" unfolding in Africa now? If so then examining the roots of the problem of provision of statistics in poor economies is certainly of great importance. This book on measuring African development in the past and in the present draws on the historical experience of colonial French West Africa, Ghana, Sudan, Mauritania and Tanzania and the more contemporary experiences of Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The authors each reflect on the changing ways statistics represent African economies and how they are used to govern them. This bookw as published as a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Development Studies.


Book Synopsis Measuring African Development by : Morten Jerven

Download or read book Measuring African Development written by Morten Jerven and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-04-14 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The chief economist for the World Bank's Africa region, Shanta Devarajan, delivered a devastating assessment of the capacity of African states to measure development in his 2013 article "Africa's Statistical Tragedy". Is there a "statistical tragedy" unfolding in Africa now? If so then examining the roots of the problem of provision of statistics in poor economies is certainly of great importance. This book on measuring African development in the past and in the present draws on the historical experience of colonial French West Africa, Ghana, Sudan, Mauritania and Tanzania and the more contemporary experiences of Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The authors each reflect on the changing ways statistics represent African economies and how they are used to govern them. This bookw as published as a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Development Studies.


Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate

Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate

Author: Sheona Shackleton

Publisher: MDPI

Published: 2019-10-08

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 3039214691

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This book is based on a Special Issue of the journal LAND that draws together a collection of 11 diverse articles at the nexus of climate change, landscapes, and livelihoods in rural Africa; all explore the links between livelihood and landscape change, including shifts in farming practices and natural resource use and management. The articles, which are all place-based case studies across nine African countries, cover three not necessarily mutually exclusive thematic areas, namely: smallholder farming livelihoods under new climate risk (five articles); long-term dynamics of livelihoods and landscape change and future trajectories (two articles); and natural resource management and governance under a changing climate, spanning forests, woodlands, and rangelands (four articles). The commonalities, key messages, and research gaps across the 11 articles are presented in a synthesis article. All the case studies pointed to the need for an integrated and in-depth understanding of the multiple drivers of landscape and livelihood change and how these interact with local histories, knowledge systems, cultures, complexities, and lived realities. Moreover, where there are interventions (such as new governance systems, REDD+ or climate smart agriculture), it is critical to interrogate what is required to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of emerging benefits.


Book Synopsis Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate by : Sheona Shackleton

Download or read book Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate written by Sheona Shackleton and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2019-10-08 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is based on a Special Issue of the journal LAND that draws together a collection of 11 diverse articles at the nexus of climate change, landscapes, and livelihoods in rural Africa; all explore the links between livelihood and landscape change, including shifts in farming practices and natural resource use and management. The articles, which are all place-based case studies across nine African countries, cover three not necessarily mutually exclusive thematic areas, namely: smallholder farming livelihoods under new climate risk (five articles); long-term dynamics of livelihoods and landscape change and future trajectories (two articles); and natural resource management and governance under a changing climate, spanning forests, woodlands, and rangelands (four articles). The commonalities, key messages, and research gaps across the 11 articles are presented in a synthesis article. All the case studies pointed to the need for an integrated and in-depth understanding of the multiple drivers of landscape and livelihood change and how these interact with local histories, knowledge systems, cultures, complexities, and lived realities. Moreover, where there are interventions (such as new governance systems, REDD+ or climate smart agriculture), it is critical to interrogate what is required to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of emerging benefits.