State-Business Relations: Africa research
Introduction
Countries across sub-Saharan Africa have experienced widely differing outcomes with respect to growth and poverty reduction in recent years. IPPG has undertaken three sets of sub-projects under the common theme of state-business relations (SBRs). The macro, micro and case studies listed below form part of IPPG's major project investigating state-business relations across India and a range of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa Macro Studies
The set of projects below examine the relationship between effective SBRs and economic growth at the macro level. The studies address how state business relations should be measured and how SBRs, as captured by these measures, affect economic growth across Sub-Saharan African countries:
- State, Business and Growth in Post-Apartheid South Africa by Jeremy Seekings and Nicoli Nattrass (2010).
- 'State-business relationships and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa by Dirk Willem te Velde and Kunal Sen (2007) from the IPPG project
- A second IPPG discussion paper by Mahvash Qureshi and Dirk Willem te Velde, 'State-Business Relations and Firm Performance in Zambia' is also available.'Econometric analyses measuring the impact of effective state-business relationships on pro-poor growth (Africa and Asia)'.
- IPPG Briefing Paper 'State-business relations, investment climate reform and economic performance in Sub-Saharan Africa' by Dirk Willem te Velde (2007).
- 'Measuring state-business relations in Sub-Saharan Africa' by Dirk Willem te Velde (2006).
Africa Micro Studies
The micro-econometric studies examine the effects of state-business relations on firm performance. The studies will use panel data and cross-sectional econometric methods to ascertain:
- whether the differences in the evolution of state business relations had clear and robust effects on firm productivity;
- whether these effects differed by the size, ownership and location of the firm.
The IPPG discussion paper 'State-business relations, investment climate reform and firm productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa' by Mahvash Qureshi and Dirk Willem te Velde June (2007), investigates this in a Sub-Saharan context.
A second IPPG discussion paper by Mahvash Qureshi and Dirk Willem te Velde, 'State-Business Relations and Firm Performance in Zambia' is also available.
Africa Case Studies
This set of papers and projects address the origins of effective and ineffective SBRs, and how they are formed, maintained or changed. The studies are undertaken by economists and political scientists and mostly adopt a historical institutionalist approach.
- Are State Business Relations important to Economic Growth? Evidence from Mauritius Sawkut Rojid Boopen Seetanah & Ramessur Shalini (2010).
- State-Business Relations and Economic Performance in Ghana by Charles Ackah, Ernest Aryeetey, Joseph Ayee & Ezekiel Clottey (2010).
- How non-state actors lobby to influence budget outcomes in Zambia by Samuel M. Bwalya, Ezekiel Phiri & Kelvin Mpembamoto (2009).
- 'The politics of state-business relationships in Malawi by Henry Chingaipe and Adrian Leftwich (2007), from the IPPG project 'The politics of state-business institutional relations'.
- There are two IPPG case studies based in Ghana: State-business relations and economic growth in Ghana, based at ISSER (Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research, Ghana); and The institutional context of industrial investment selection, based at Heriot Watt University. Read Professor Paul Hare's final report on the Investment Selection in Ghana project (June 2010).
- There are two IPPG case studies based in Zambia: SBRs in Zambia: a focus on the mining sector and How State-Business Relations Influence Fiscal Policy and Budgeting in Zambia.
- The current SBR research cluster also includes State-business relations (SBRs) and economic growth in South Africa; and
- State-business relations (SBRs), economic growth and firm performance in Mauritius
- Henry Chingaipe, one of the IPPG supported Ph.D. students, is also undertaking a case study of Malawi.
The Economics and Politics of State-Business Relations in Africa - Preliminary Findings
This 2008 publication contains a series of four papers highlighting economic and political approaches toward studying state-business relations. Edited by Adrian Leftwich, Kunal Sen and Dirk Willem te Velde.
Download the PDF here