UNIT 7 Flashcards
What are some of the regional blocs in Sub-Saharan Africa and their historical characteristics?
Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by diverse regional blocs, such as
-The Sahel with similar historical and geographical characteristics
-Humid tropical Africa with divergent historical trajectories but important articulations between countries
-Southern Africa with the presence of South Africa and integration around it
-East Africa with the unique Ethiopian experience
-Island Africa with best economic performance indicators.
What were some of the factors that contributed to Botswana’s success in development?
Botswana’s success in development can be attributed to factors such as
-mineral resource dependence (diamonds)
-absence of armed conflict or high levels of instability
-more favorable colonial experience and supportive transition to independence
-strong state and consolidated democratic institutions
-effective political leadership
-successful negotiation with DeBeers emporium, and balanced industrialization
-infrastructure development, and social policies fueled by diamond revenues.
What were some of the challenges faced by Zambia in its development?
Zambia faced challenges in its development due to
-mineral resource dependence (copper)
-absence of armed conflict or high instability
-excessive optimism in the 1970s about copper prices
-industrialization dependent on and linked to the copper complex
-agricultural strategy of subsidizing maize
-indebtedness and macroeconomic crisis
-accelerated liberalization, and worsening of the crisis.
What are some common obstacles to development in non-developed regions, including Africa?
Some common obstacles to development in non-developed regions, including Africa, include:
-high transaction costs\
-unstable ill-defined property rights
-political corruption/patrimonialism
-high weight of the informal economy
Africa specific:
-weak states
-lack of control over territory/monopoly over means of coercion
-relatively weak capitalist sectors/classes
-patterns of accumulation dependent on natural resources, and lack of structural change.
Why is agriculture important in Africa despite negative perceptions?
Agriculture remains very important in Africa as it serves as an engine of growth (though volatile), generator of foreign exchange through exports, source of employment (60-80% in many countries), and crucial for social and political stability.
What are some issues to consider when analyzing agricultural production data in Africa?
When analyzing agricultural production data in Africa, it is important to consider problems with data reliability, such as unreliable primary data due to inadequate measurement methods, underestimation or marginalization of certain crops, politicized manipulations, and effects of regional smuggling dynamics on national production data.
What are some positive elements and potential challenges associated with mining, extractive activities, and oil revenues in Africa?
Positive elements and potential challenges associated with mining, extractive activities, and oil revenues in Africa include being a driver of industrial development, part of the most technologically advanced sector, generator of foreign exchange, foreign direct investment pull factor, enclave economies with low spillover effects, risk of Dutch Disease, and issues with rent management and poor redistribution of rents towards productive and social investments.
What are some emerging opportunities for manufacturing industry in Africa?
Emerging opportunities for manufacturing industry in Africa include rising costs in China and offshoring, growing domestic demand in Asia, dynamism of natural resource-based manufacturing, agglomeration economies and cluster generation, and upgrading.
