Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa

Not only do Africa's fragile states grow more slowly than non-fragile states, but they seem to be caught in a "fragility trap". For instance, the probability that a fragile state in 2001 was still fragile in 2009 was 0.95. This paper...

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Main Authors: Andrimihaja, Noro Aina, Cinyabuguma, Matthias, Devarajan, Shantayanan
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
GDP
TAX
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111117111212
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3652
id okr-10986-3652
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
topic ABSOLUTE TERMS
ACCOUNTING
AGGREGATE GROWTH
AGGREGATE INCOME
BALANCED ECONOMIC GROWTH
BALANCED GROWTH
BANK OPERATIONS
BUDGET CONSTRAINT
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL INCREASES
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
CAPITAL MARKET
CAPITAL SHARE
CAPITAL STOCK
CIVIL WARS
CONSTANT RETURNS
CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE
CONSUMERS
CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT
DATA SET
DEMAND FUNCTIONS
DEMOCRACY
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
DERIVATIVE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DUMMY VARIABLE
DUMMY VARIABLES
DYNAMIC PATH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INSTABILITY
ECONOMIC LITERATURE
ECONOMIC REVIEW
ECONOMIC STUDIES
ELASTICITY
EMPIRICAL ESTIMATES
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
EMPIRICAL GROWTH LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL MODEL
EMPIRICAL RESULTS
ENDOGENOUS GROWTH
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
EQUILIBRIUM TRAP
EQUILIBRIUM WAGE
EXOGENOUS RATE
EXPROPRIATION
FACTOR PRICES
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
FOREIGN AID
FUNCTIONAL FORM
FUTURE RESEARCH
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL
GOVERNMENT BUDGET
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GOVERNMENT POLICY
GOVERNMENT REVENUE
GOVERNMENT REVENUES
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROWTH EQUATION
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
GROWTH REGRESSION
GROWTH REGRESSIONS
HUMAN CAPITAL
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME TAX
INCREASE GROWTH
INCREASING FUNCTION
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
INTEREST RATE
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INVESTING
INVESTMENT POLICIES
INVESTMENT POLICY
INVESTMENT RATE
INVESTMENT RATIO
LABOR MARKET
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LINEAR MODEL
LIQUIDITY
LONG-RUN INEQUALITY
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
LOW INCOME
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MACROECONOMIC ISSUES
MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY
MARGINAL PRODUCTS
MARGINAL PROPENSITY
MARGINAL PROPENSITY TO SAVE
MARKET VOLATILITY
MINIMUM LEVEL
MULTIPLIERS
NEGATIVE SHOCKS
OPTIMIZATION
OUTPUT
OUTPUT GROWTH
PERFECT COMPETITION
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY OPTIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY VARIABLES
POLITICAL ECONOMIES
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
POLITICAL STABILITY
POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
POPULATION GROWTH
POSITIVE IMPACT
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP
POSITIVE SHOCKS
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY TRAPS
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRODUCTION FUNCTION
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC SPENDING
REAL GDP
RETURN
RETURNS
RISK PREMIUMS
RULE OF LAW
SAVING FUNCTION
SAVINGS
SECURE PROPERTY RIGHTS
SHORT-TERM LIQUIDITY
STATE CAPACITY
STATE FAILURE
STATE PERFORMANCE
STOCKS
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
TAX
TAX CODES
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REVENUES
TAXATION
TERRORISM
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
UNENFORCEABLE CONTRACTS
UTILITY FUNCTIONS
UTILITY MAXIMIZATION
VOTERS
WAGES
WEALTH
spellingShingle ABSOLUTE TERMS
ACCOUNTING
AGGREGATE GROWTH
AGGREGATE INCOME
BALANCED ECONOMIC GROWTH
BALANCED GROWTH
BANK OPERATIONS
BUDGET CONSTRAINT
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL INCREASES
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
CAPITAL MARKET
CAPITAL SHARE
CAPITAL STOCK
CIVIL WARS
CONSTANT RETURNS
CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE
CONSUMERS
CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT
DATA SET
DEMAND FUNCTIONS
DEMOCRACY
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
DERIVATIVE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DUMMY VARIABLE
DUMMY VARIABLES
DYNAMIC PATH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INSTABILITY
ECONOMIC LITERATURE
ECONOMIC REVIEW
ECONOMIC STUDIES
ELASTICITY
EMPIRICAL ESTIMATES
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
EMPIRICAL GROWTH LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL MODEL
EMPIRICAL RESULTS
ENDOGENOUS GROWTH
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
EQUILIBRIUM TRAP
EQUILIBRIUM WAGE
EXOGENOUS RATE
EXPROPRIATION
FACTOR PRICES
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
FOREIGN AID
FUNCTIONAL FORM
FUTURE RESEARCH
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL
GOVERNMENT BUDGET
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GOVERNMENT POLICY
GOVERNMENT REVENUE
GOVERNMENT REVENUES
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROWTH EQUATION
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
GROWTH REGRESSION
GROWTH REGRESSIONS
HUMAN CAPITAL
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME TAX
INCREASE GROWTH
INCREASING FUNCTION
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
INTEREST RATE
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INVESTING
INVESTMENT POLICIES
INVESTMENT POLICY
INVESTMENT RATE
INVESTMENT RATIO
LABOR MARKET
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LINEAR MODEL
LIQUIDITY
LONG-RUN INEQUALITY
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
LOW INCOME
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MACROECONOMIC ISSUES
MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY
MARGINAL PRODUCTS
MARGINAL PROPENSITY
MARGINAL PROPENSITY TO SAVE
MARKET VOLATILITY
MINIMUM LEVEL
MULTIPLIERS
NEGATIVE SHOCKS
OPTIMIZATION
OUTPUT
OUTPUT GROWTH
PERFECT COMPETITION
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY OPTIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY VARIABLES
POLITICAL ECONOMIES
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
POLITICAL STABILITY
POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
POPULATION GROWTH
POSITIVE IMPACT
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP
POSITIVE SHOCKS
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY TRAPS
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRODUCTION FUNCTION
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC SPENDING
REAL GDP
RETURN
RETURNS
RISK PREMIUMS
RULE OF LAW
SAVING FUNCTION
SAVINGS
SECURE PROPERTY RIGHTS
SHORT-TERM LIQUIDITY
STATE CAPACITY
STATE FAILURE
STATE PERFORMANCE
STOCKS
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
TAX
TAX CODES
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REVENUES
TAXATION
TERRORISM
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
UNENFORCEABLE CONTRACTS
UTILITY FUNCTIONS
UTILITY MAXIMIZATION
VOTERS
WAGES
WEALTH
Andrimihaja, Noro Aina
Cinyabuguma, Matthias
Devarajan, Shantayanan
Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa
geographic_facet Africa
Africa
Africa
relation Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5884
description Not only do Africa's fragile states grow more slowly than non-fragile states, but they seem to be caught in a "fragility trap". For instance, the probability that a fragile state in 2001 was still fragile in 2009 was 0.95. This paper presents an economic model where three features -- political instability and violence, insecure property rights and unenforceable contracts, and corruption -- conspire to create a slow-growth-poor-governance equilibrium trap into which these fragile states can fall. The analysis shows that, by addressing the three problems, fragile countries can emerge from the fragility trap and enjoy a level of sustained economic growth. But addressing these issues requires resources, which are scarce because external aid is often tailored to the country's performance and cut back when there is instability, insecurity, and corruption. The implication is that, even if aid is seemingly unproductive in these weak-governance environments, it could be hugely beneficial if it is invested in such a way that it helps these countries tackle the root causes of instability, insecurity, and corruption. Empirical estimations corroborate the postulated relationships of the model, supporting the notion that it is possible for African fragile countries to avoid the fragility trap.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Andrimihaja, Noro Aina
Cinyabuguma, Matthias
Devarajan, Shantayanan
author_facet Andrimihaja, Noro Aina
Cinyabuguma, Matthias
Devarajan, Shantayanan
author_sort Andrimihaja, Noro Aina
title Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa
title_short Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa
title_full Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa
title_fullStr Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa
title_sort avoiding the fragility trap in africa
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111117111212
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3652
_version_ 1764387637470167040
spelling okr-10986-36522021-04-23T14:02:11Z Avoiding the Fragility Trap in Africa Andrimihaja, Noro Aina Cinyabuguma, Matthias Devarajan, Shantayanan ABSOLUTE TERMS ACCOUNTING AGGREGATE GROWTH AGGREGATE INCOME BALANCED ECONOMIC GROWTH BALANCED GROWTH BANK OPERATIONS BUDGET CONSTRAINT CAPITAL ACCUMULATION CAPITAL INCREASES CAPITAL INVESTMENT CAPITAL MARKET CAPITAL SHARE CAPITAL STOCK CIVIL WARS CONSTANT RETURNS CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE CONSUMERS CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT DATA SET DEMAND FUNCTIONS DEMOCRACY DEPENDENT VARIABLE DERIVATIVE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT BANK DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT REPORT DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH DUMMY VARIABLE DUMMY VARIABLES DYNAMIC PATH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC INSTABILITY ECONOMIC LITERATURE ECONOMIC REVIEW ECONOMIC STUDIES ELASTICITY EMPIRICAL ESTIMATES EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE EMPIRICAL GROWTH LITERATURE EMPIRICAL MODEL EMPIRICAL RESULTS ENDOGENOUS GROWTH EQUATIONS EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM TRAP EQUILIBRIUM WAGE EXOGENOUS RATE EXPROPRIATION FACTOR PRICES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOREIGN AID FUNCTIONAL FORM FUTURE RESEARCH GDP GDP PER CAPITA GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL GOVERNMENT BUDGET GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT GOVERNMENT POLICIES GOVERNMENT POLICY GOVERNMENT REVENUE GOVERNMENT REVENUES GOVERNMENT SPENDING GROWTH EQUATION GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES GROWTH REGRESSION GROWTH REGRESSIONS HUMAN CAPITAL INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME GROWTH INCOME TAX INCREASE GROWTH INCREASING FUNCTION INDEPENDENT VARIABLES INTEREST RATE INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INVESTING INVESTMENT POLICIES INVESTMENT POLICY INVESTMENT RATE INVESTMENT RATIO LABOR MARKET LABOR PRODUCTIVITY LINEAR MODEL LIQUIDITY LONG-RUN INEQUALITY LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS LOW INCOME LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES MACROECONOMIC ISSUES MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY MARGINAL PRODUCTS MARGINAL PROPENSITY MARGINAL PROPENSITY TO SAVE MARKET VOLATILITY MINIMUM LEVEL MULTIPLIERS NEGATIVE SHOCKS OPTIMIZATION OUTPUT OUTPUT GROWTH PERFECT COMPETITION POLICY DISCUSSIONS POLICY MAKERS POLICY OPTIONS POLICY RESEARCH POLICY VARIABLES POLITICAL ECONOMIES POLITICAL ECONOMY POLITICAL INSTABILITY POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL STABILITY POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY POPULATION GROWTH POSITIVE IMPACT POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP POSITIVE SHOCKS POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY TRAPS PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRODUCTION FUNCTION PRODUCTIVITY PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC GOODS PUBLIC SPENDING REAL GDP RETURN RETURNS RISK PREMIUMS RULE OF LAW SAVING FUNCTION SAVINGS SECURE PROPERTY RIGHTS SHORT-TERM LIQUIDITY STATE CAPACITY STATE FAILURE STATE PERFORMANCE STOCKS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH TAX TAX CODES TAX RATE TAX RATES TAX REVENUES TAXATION TERRORISM TRANSITION ECONOMIES UNENFORCEABLE CONTRACTS UTILITY FUNCTIONS UTILITY MAXIMIZATION VOTERS WAGES WEALTH Not only do Africa's fragile states grow more slowly than non-fragile states, but they seem to be caught in a "fragility trap". For instance, the probability that a fragile state in 2001 was still fragile in 2009 was 0.95. This paper presents an economic model where three features -- political instability and violence, insecure property rights and unenforceable contracts, and corruption -- conspire to create a slow-growth-poor-governance equilibrium trap into which these fragile states can fall. The analysis shows that, by addressing the three problems, fragile countries can emerge from the fragility trap and enjoy a level of sustained economic growth. But addressing these issues requires resources, which are scarce because external aid is often tailored to the country's performance and cut back when there is instability, insecurity, and corruption. The implication is that, even if aid is seemingly unproductive in these weak-governance environments, it could be hugely beneficial if it is invested in such a way that it helps these countries tackle the root causes of instability, insecurity, and corruption. Empirical estimations corroborate the postulated relationships of the model, supporting the notion that it is possible for African fragile countries to avoid the fragility trap. 2012-03-19T18:06:14Z 2012-03-19T18:06:14Z 2011-11-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111117111212 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3652 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5884 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Africa Africa Africa