Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014

Benin has made substantial progress over the past decade in reinforcing macroeconomic stability, which has laid the foundation for modest but accelerating growth. After averaging less than 3.7 percent from 2007-2011, GDP growth rose to 5.4 percent...

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Main Author:	World Bank
Format:	Economic Updates and Modeling
Language:	English en_US
Published:	2014
Subjects:	ACCESS TO EDUCATION ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AGRICULTURAL INCOMES AGRICULTURAL LAND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AGRICULTURAL SECTORS AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE AGRICULTURE ANNUAL CHANGE ASSETS BETTER FARMING PRACTICES CALORIC INTAKE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CASH BASIS CENTRAL BANK CHANGES IN POVERTY COMPARATOR COUNTRIES COMPETITIVENESS CONFLICT CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMER PRICES CONSUMPTION BASKET CONSUMPTION GROWTH CONSUMPTION LEVELS COTTON PRODUCTION CREDIT CONSTRAINTS DEBT DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS DISPARITIES BETWEEN REGIONS DOMESTIC CREDIT DOMESTIC PRICES DROP IN POVERTY DURABLE GOODS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC LIFE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ECONOMIC REFORMS EMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES EXCHANGE RATE EXTREME POVERTY FARMER FARMERS FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SECTOR FISCAL POLICY FOOD PRICE FOOD PRICES GDP GDP PER CAPITA GROWTH PERFORMANCE GROWTH POTENTIAL GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HEADCOUNT RATIO HEALTH CARE HEALTH INSURANCE HIGH CONCENTRATION HIGH GROWTH HIGH POVERTY HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD HEAD HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX IMPACT ON POVERTY IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION INCIDENCE OF POVERTY INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME GROUPS INCOME GROWTH INCOME LEVELS INEFFICIENCY INEQUALITY INFLATION INFORMAL ECONOMY INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT INVESTMENT CLIMATE LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LAND REFORM LAND TENURE LAND TITLING LIFE EXPECTANCY LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LIVING STANDARDS LONG-TERM GROWTH LOW WAGES MACROECONOMIC GROWTH MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MACROECONOMICS MARGINAL PRODUCT MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY MARKET FAILURES NATIONAL POVERTY NATIONAL POVERTY HEADCOUNT NATIONAL POVERTY LINE NET EXPORTS PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE PER CAPITA GROWTH PER CAPITA INCOME POLICY AREAS POLICY CHANGES POOR POOR HOUSEHOLD POORER HOUSEHOLDS POVERTY DYNAMICS POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATE POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATES POVERTY INCIDENCE POVERTY INDICATORS POVERTY LEVELS POVERTY LINE POVERTY MEASURES POVERTY RATE POVERTY RATES POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER POVERTY STATUS PRICE STABILITY PRO-POOR PRO-POOR GROWTH PRODUCTION VOLUMES PRODUCTIVE ASSETS PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES PROFIT MARGINS PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PUBLIC INVESTMENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC WORKS QUALITY OF LIFE RAPID GROWTH REAL EXCHANGE RATE REAL GDP REDUCING POVERTY REDUCTION IN POVERTY REFORM PROGRAM REGIONAL DISPARITIES REGIONAL STANDARDS REGIONAL TRADE RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL DIFFERENCES RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE RURAL POPULATION RURAL POPULATIONS SAFEGUARDS SANITATION SECTOR ACTIVITIES SMALL FARMERS SOCIAL SPENDING STRUCTURAL POLICIES STRUCTURAL REFORMS SUBSISTENCE SUSTAINABLE POVERTY SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION TAX REVENUES TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TOTAL OUTPUT TOTAL REVENUE TRADE POLICY UNDUE INFLUENCE UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE URBAN AREAS VALUE ADDED WELFARE IMPROVEMENTS WIDESPREAD POVERTY
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/01/20308539/benin-economic-update-fall-2014 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20672

id	okr-10986-20672
recordtype	oai_dc
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Foreign Institution
institution	Digital Repositories
building	World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection	World Bank
language	English en_US
topic	ACCESS TO EDUCATION ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AGRICULTURAL INCOMES AGRICULTURAL LAND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AGRICULTURAL SECTORS AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE AGRICULTURE ANNUAL CHANGE ASSETS BETTER FARMING PRACTICES CALORIC INTAKE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CASH BASIS CENTRAL BANK CHANGES IN POVERTY COMPARATOR COUNTRIES COMPETITIVENESS CONFLICT CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMER PRICES CONSUMPTION BASKET CONSUMPTION GROWTH CONSUMPTION LEVELS COTTON PRODUCTION CREDIT CONSTRAINTS DEBT DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS DISPARITIES BETWEEN REGIONS DOMESTIC CREDIT DOMESTIC PRICES DROP IN POVERTY DURABLE GOODS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC LIFE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ECONOMIC REFORMS EMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES EXCHANGE RATE EXTREME POVERTY FARMER FARMERS FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SECTOR FISCAL POLICY FOOD PRICE FOOD PRICES GDP GDP PER CAPITA GROWTH PERFORMANCE GROWTH POTENTIAL GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HEADCOUNT RATIO HEALTH CARE HEALTH INSURANCE HIGH CONCENTRATION HIGH GROWTH HIGH POVERTY HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD HEAD HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX IMPACT ON POVERTY IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION INCIDENCE OF POVERTY INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME GROUPS INCOME GROWTH INCOME LEVELS INEFFICIENCY INEQUALITY INFLATION INFORMAL ECONOMY INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT INVESTMENT CLIMATE LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LAND REFORM LAND TENURE LAND TITLING LIFE EXPECTANCY LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LIVING STANDARDS LONG-TERM GROWTH LOW WAGES MACROECONOMIC GROWTH MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MACROECONOMICS MARGINAL PRODUCT MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY MARKET FAILURES NATIONAL POVERTY NATIONAL POVERTY HEADCOUNT NATIONAL POVERTY LINE NET EXPORTS PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE PER CAPITA GROWTH PER CAPITA INCOME POLICY AREAS POLICY CHANGES POOR POOR HOUSEHOLD POORER HOUSEHOLDS POVERTY DYNAMICS POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATE POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATES POVERTY INCIDENCE POVERTY INDICATORS POVERTY LEVELS POVERTY LINE POVERTY MEASURES POVERTY RATE POVERTY RATES POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER POVERTY STATUS PRICE STABILITY PRO-POOR PRO-POOR GROWTH PRODUCTION VOLUMES PRODUCTIVE ASSETS PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES PROFIT MARGINS PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PUBLIC INVESTMENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC WORKS QUALITY OF LIFE RAPID GROWTH REAL EXCHANGE RATE REAL GDP REDUCING POVERTY REDUCTION IN POVERTY REFORM PROGRAM REGIONAL DISPARITIES REGIONAL STANDARDS REGIONAL TRADE RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL DIFFERENCES RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE RURAL POPULATION RURAL POPULATIONS SAFEGUARDS SANITATION SECTOR ACTIVITIES SMALL FARMERS SOCIAL SPENDING STRUCTURAL POLICIES STRUCTURAL REFORMS SUBSISTENCE SUSTAINABLE POVERTY SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION TAX REVENUES TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TOTAL OUTPUT TOTAL REVENUE TRADE POLICY UNDUE INFLUENCE UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE URBAN AREAS VALUE ADDED WELFARE IMPROVEMENTS WIDESPREAD POVERTY
spellingShingle	ACCESS TO EDUCATION ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AGRICULTURAL INCOMES AGRICULTURAL LAND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AGRICULTURAL SECTORS AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE AGRICULTURE ANNUAL CHANGE ASSETS BETTER FARMING PRACTICES CALORIC INTAKE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CASH BASIS CENTRAL BANK CHANGES IN POVERTY COMPARATOR COUNTRIES COMPETITIVENESS CONFLICT CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMER PRICES CONSUMPTION BASKET CONSUMPTION GROWTH CONSUMPTION LEVELS COTTON PRODUCTION CREDIT CONSTRAINTS DEBT DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS DISPARITIES BETWEEN REGIONS DOMESTIC CREDIT DOMESTIC PRICES DROP IN POVERTY DURABLE GOODS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC LIFE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ECONOMIC REFORMS EMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES EXCHANGE RATE EXTREME POVERTY FARMER FARMERS FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SECTOR FISCAL POLICY FOOD PRICE FOOD PRICES GDP GDP PER CAPITA GROWTH PERFORMANCE GROWTH POTENTIAL GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HEADCOUNT RATIO HEALTH CARE HEALTH INSURANCE HIGH CONCENTRATION HIGH GROWTH HIGH POVERTY HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD HEAD HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX IMPACT ON POVERTY IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION INCIDENCE OF POVERTY INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME GROUPS INCOME GROWTH INCOME LEVELS INEFFICIENCY INEQUALITY INFLATION INFORMAL ECONOMY INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT INVESTMENT CLIMATE LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LAND REFORM LAND TENURE LAND TITLING LIFE EXPECTANCY LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LIVING STANDARDS LONG-TERM GROWTH LOW WAGES MACROECONOMIC GROWTH MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MACROECONOMICS MARGINAL PRODUCT MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY MARKET FAILURES NATIONAL POVERTY NATIONAL POVERTY HEADCOUNT NATIONAL POVERTY LINE NET EXPORTS PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE PER CAPITA GROWTH PER CAPITA INCOME POLICY AREAS POLICY CHANGES POOR POOR HOUSEHOLD POORER HOUSEHOLDS POVERTY DYNAMICS POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATE POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATES POVERTY INCIDENCE POVERTY INDICATORS POVERTY LEVELS POVERTY LINE POVERTY MEASURES POVERTY RATE POVERTY RATES POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER POVERTY STATUS PRICE STABILITY PRO-POOR PRO-POOR GROWTH PRODUCTION VOLUMES PRODUCTIVE ASSETS PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES PROFIT MARGINS PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PUBLIC INVESTMENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC WORKS QUALITY OF LIFE RAPID GROWTH REAL EXCHANGE RATE REAL GDP REDUCING POVERTY REDUCTION IN POVERTY REFORM PROGRAM REGIONAL DISPARITIES REGIONAL STANDARDS REGIONAL TRADE RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL DIFFERENCES RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE RURAL POPULATION RURAL POPULATIONS SAFEGUARDS SANITATION SECTOR ACTIVITIES SMALL FARMERS SOCIAL SPENDING STRUCTURAL POLICIES STRUCTURAL REFORMS SUBSISTENCE SUSTAINABLE POVERTY SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION TAX REVENUES TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TOTAL OUTPUT TOTAL REVENUE TRADE POLICY UNDUE INFLUENCE UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE URBAN AREAS VALUE ADDED WELFARE IMPROVEMENTS WIDESPREAD POVERTY World Bank Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014
geographic_facet	Africa Benin
description	Benin has made substantial progress over the past decade in reinforcing macroeconomic stability, which has laid the foundation for modest but accelerating growth. After averaging less than 3.7 percent from 2007-2011, GDP growth rose to 5.4 percent in 2012 and reached 5.6 percent in 2013. Growth is expected to remain strong at 5.5 percent in 2014. Benin s enhanced growth performance has been supported by ongoing efficiency improvements at the Port of Cotonou, a vital regional trade hub, which have boosted traffic and cut marginal shipping costs. These developments have been complemented by stronger cotton and non-cotton agricultural production, which have been bolstered by favorable weather conditions and relatively effective management of recent cotton campaigns. The weak connectivity between macroeconomic growth and poverty reduction arises largely from the very modest growth of per capita income. In addition, the highly informal nature of the economy, low and declining productivity, particularly in agriculture, and a lack of economic diversification all contribute to the persistence of poverty in Benin. Agricultural growth has been driven by the expansion of cultivated land rather than by increased productivity. Similarly, the increasing size of the national labor force has made a far larger contribution to GDP than have increases in labor productivity. Growth in the formal, salaried labor market remains constrained, and few high productivity/high wage jobs are being created. Strengthening the links between growth and poverty reduction will require boosting productivity, enhancing the business and investment climate, and promoting formalization. In this context, the Benin Economic Update is designed to provide timely analysis of recent developments and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on sound macroeconomic management and effective poverty reduction.
format	Economic & Sector Work :: Economic Updates and Modeling
author	World Bank
author_facet	World Bank
author_sort	World Bank
title	Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014
title_short	Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014
title_full	Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014
title_fullStr	Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014
title_full_unstemmed	Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014
title_sort	benin economic update, fall 2014
publishDate	2014
url	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/01/20308539/benin-economic-update-fall-2014 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20672
_version_	1764445847051829248
spelling	okr-10986-206722021-04-23T14:03:57Z Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014 World Bank ACCESS TO EDUCATION ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AGRICULTURAL INCOMES AGRICULTURAL LAND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AGRICULTURAL SECTORS AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE AGRICULTURE ANNUAL CHANGE ASSETS BETTER FARMING PRACTICES CALORIC INTAKE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CASH BASIS CENTRAL BANK CHANGES IN POVERTY COMPARATOR COUNTRIES COMPETITIVENESS CONFLICT CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMER PRICES CONSUMPTION BASKET CONSUMPTION GROWTH CONSUMPTION LEVELS COTTON PRODUCTION CREDIT CONSTRAINTS DEBT DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS DISPARITIES BETWEEN REGIONS DOMESTIC CREDIT DOMESTIC PRICES DROP IN POVERTY DURABLE GOODS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC LIFE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ECONOMIC REFORMS EMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES EXCHANGE RATE EXTREME POVERTY FARMER FARMERS FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SECTOR FISCAL POLICY FOOD PRICE FOOD PRICES GDP GDP PER CAPITA GROWTH PERFORMANCE GROWTH POTENTIAL GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HEADCOUNT RATIO HEALTH CARE HEALTH INSURANCE HIGH CONCENTRATION HIGH GROWTH HIGH POVERTY HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD HEAD HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX IMPACT ON POVERTY IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION INCIDENCE OF POVERTY INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME GROUPS INCOME GROWTH INCOME LEVELS INEFFICIENCY INEQUALITY INFLATION INFORMAL ECONOMY INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT INVESTMENT CLIMATE LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LAND REFORM LAND TENURE LAND TITLING LIFE EXPECTANCY LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LIVING STANDARDS LONG-TERM GROWTH LOW WAGES MACROECONOMIC GROWTH MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MACROECONOMICS MARGINAL PRODUCT MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY MARKET FAILURES NATIONAL POVERTY NATIONAL POVERTY HEADCOUNT NATIONAL POVERTY LINE NET EXPORTS PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE PER CAPITA GROWTH PER CAPITA INCOME POLICY AREAS POLICY CHANGES POOR POOR HOUSEHOLD POORER HOUSEHOLDS POVERTY DYNAMICS POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATE POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATES POVERTY INCIDENCE POVERTY INDICATORS POVERTY LEVELS POVERTY LINE POVERTY MEASURES POVERTY RATE POVERTY RATES POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER POVERTY STATUS PRICE STABILITY PRO-POOR PRO-POOR GROWTH PRODUCTION VOLUMES PRODUCTIVE ASSETS PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES PROFIT MARGINS PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PUBLIC INVESTMENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC WORKS QUALITY OF LIFE RAPID GROWTH REAL EXCHANGE RATE REAL GDP REDUCING POVERTY REDUCTION IN POVERTY REFORM PROGRAM REGIONAL DISPARITIES REGIONAL STANDARDS REGIONAL TRADE RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL DIFFERENCES RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE RURAL POPULATION RURAL POPULATIONS SAFEGUARDS SANITATION SECTOR ACTIVITIES SMALL FARMERS SOCIAL SPENDING STRUCTURAL POLICIES STRUCTURAL REFORMS SUBSISTENCE SUSTAINABLE POVERTY SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION TAX REVENUES TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TOTAL OUTPUT TOTAL REVENUE TRADE POLICY UNDUE INFLUENCE UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE URBAN AREAS VALUE ADDED WELFARE IMPROVEMENTS WIDESPREAD POVERTY Benin has made substantial progress over the past decade in reinforcing macroeconomic stability, which has laid the foundation for modest but accelerating growth. After averaging less than 3.7 percent from 2007-2011, GDP growth rose to 5.4 percent in 2012 and reached 5.6 percent in 2013. Growth is expected to remain strong at 5.5 percent in 2014. Benin s enhanced growth performance has been supported by ongoing efficiency improvements at the Port of Cotonou, a vital regional trade hub, which have boosted traffic and cut marginal shipping costs. These developments have been complemented by stronger cotton and non-cotton agricultural production, which have been bolstered by favorable weather conditions and relatively effective management of recent cotton campaigns. The weak connectivity between macroeconomic growth and poverty reduction arises largely from the very modest growth of per capita income. In addition, the highly informal nature of the economy, low and declining productivity, particularly in agriculture, and a lack of economic diversification all contribute to the persistence of poverty in Benin. Agricultural growth has been driven by the expansion of cultivated land rather than by increased productivity. Similarly, the increasing size of the national labor force has made a far larger contribution to GDP than have increases in labor productivity. Growth in the formal, salaried labor market remains constrained, and few high productivity/high wage jobs are being created. Strengthening the links between growth and poverty reduction will require boosting productivity, enhancing the business and investment climate, and promoting formalization. In this context, the Benin Economic Update is designed to provide timely analysis of recent developments and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on sound macroeconomic management and effective poverty reduction. 2014-12-08T18:15:54Z 2014-12-08T18:15:54Z 2014-10 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/01/20308539/benin-economic-update-fall-2014 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20672 English en_US CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ Economic & Sector Work :: Economic Updates and Modeling Africa Benin

Benin Economic Update, Fall 2014

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