Nonlinear Effects of Inflation on Growth in the WAEMU

The monetary policy conducted by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) faces many challenges, including the need to fight against inflation, which is driven mainly by the volatility of commodity prices on international markets. It is also fall to common criticisms about the lack of economic growth objective in her mandate as developing countries central bank in among the poorest in the world. It therefore not immune to reflection on the existence of a dilemma "inflation-growth" it would, consciously or unconsciously involved. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the existence of a non-linear relationship between inflation and the economic growth within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and to determine the inflation threshold at which a trade-off between inflation and growth is effective. From a threshold effects dynamic panel model, the study shows that the optimal level of inflation in the WAEMU zone is 8.08%. This result raises the question of the relevance of the standard deduction of 3% under the convergence criteria of the WAEMU zone. In addition, the inclusion of such a result is likely to help the BCEAO in the definition and conduct of monetary policy.Inflation; Croissance; Politique monétaire; Effets de seuil; Panel dynamique; UEMOA.

Coordination des Politiques Economiques au Sein de la Zone UEMOA : Bilan et Perspectives

The recent economic and financial crisis in the euro area seems to question the theoretical solutions to coordinate economic policies in monetary unions. In this paper, we adress the current system of economic policy coordination within the WAEMU during 1994-2010. Using game theory and econometric techniques, we analyze the prospects of this framework. Thus, the effects of the coordination of the Central Bank and the WAEMU Commission on key macroeconomic variables are analyzed and the effects of fiscal policy coordination on intermediate goals including budget deficits and inflation. It appears that a mechanism for coordinating policies to strengthen the foundations for institutional convergence to support economic growth in the long term and that clearly specifies the set of monetary and fiscal contracts between on one side the monetary authority and fiscal authorities of the other, is a must for the optimality of the effects of monetary and fiscal policy item

Effets Non Linéaires de l'Inflation sur la Croissance dans l'UEMOA

The monetary policy conducted by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) faces many challenges, including the need to fight against inflation, which is driven mainly by the volatility of commodity prices on international markets. It is also fall to common criticisms about the lack of economic growth objective in her mandate as developing countries central bank in among the poorest in the world. It therefore not immune to reflection on the existence of a dilemma "inflation-growth" it would, consciously or unconsciously involved. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the existence of a non-linear relationship between inflation and the economic growth within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and to determine the inflation threshold at which a trade-off between inflation and growth is effective. From a threshold effects dynamic panel model, the study shows that the optimal level of inflation in the WAEMU zone is 8.08%. This result raises the question of the relevance of the standard deduction of 3% under the convergence criteria of the WAEMU zone. In addition, the inclusion of such a result is likely to help the BCEAO in the definition and conduct of monetary policy

Epilepsy and traditional medicine in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).

OBJECTIVES: To contribute to a better knowledge of how epilepsy is perceived by traditional healers in Burkina Faso; what means they use to treat it, and how they think about modern treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Individual interviews with 65 traditional healers chosen at random from members of the Reelwende Association. RESULTS: All traditional practitioners were of male gender. Most of them were above 50 years of age, and 75% had more than 10 years' experience. Epilepsy was considered to be contagious by 44% of the traditional practitioners, and hereditary according to 40% of them. Roughly, 15% of the healers think that the problem is localized in the head of a person and 7.8% think that they have worms in their head. Thirty-one per cent of them diagnose epilepsy if there is a combination of 'convulsions, sudden fall, dribbling and amnesia'. Another 15% require a combination of 'convulsions, amnesia and dribbling', the remaining 54% make the diagnosis based on one symptom or various combinations of two symptoms of 'grand mal' (generalized tonic clonic) seizures and most claim they have a treatment for it. For a quarter of them, therapeutic-means include concoctions of herbs or roots, baths and infusions. During the fit, 31% of the traditional practitioners think that nothing should be performed. According to 75% of them, traditional and modern treatments are complementary. CONCLUSION: Notwithstanding important differences in culture and religions (Muslim, Christian and Original), there is great similarity between the knowledge and beliefs about epilepsy reported from other parts of Africa and those presented by our study-group, suggesting an ancient origin of the concepts. Further study is needed to find out how other facets of epilepsy (e.g. complex partial seizures, absences) are perceived and how these are being treated. Ways need to be found to raise awareness about epilepsy without interfering with religious and cultural beliefs

Socio-Cultural Perceptions and Representations of Dementia in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo: The EDAC Survey

Background: Dementia will concern more and more people in the developing countries, but the perception people have of dementia in these areas has not yet been studied. Method: During a general population survey (EDAC) carried out in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), 27 elderly persons suspected of having dementia and 31 of their relatives, 90 cognitively impaired elderly persons and 92 of their relatives, as well as 33 hospital workers were interviewed according to the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue. Results: Item prominence ratings indicate that the attention was mainly on the emotional and socio-economic consequences (scores >1.0 out of 5 points). Ageing and mental stress are the main perceived causes. Hospital workers are more aware of public stigma. Conclusion: The socio-cultural components of the dementia phenomenon have to be taken into account to enforce public health and social measures

Incidence and correlates of delirium in a West African mental health clinic

Objective: <br/> <br/> To determine the incidence of delirium in those patients presenting to a psychiatric clinic in Nigeria and to examine if any demographic or clinical variables were correlated with this diagnosis. <br/> <br/> Method <br/> <br/> A prospective survey design; 264 consecutive new referrals to a psychiatric clinic in Nigeria were assessed for the presence of delirium using a standardised diagnostic scale. Data was analysed for normality and appropriate statistical test employed to examine the relationships between the presence of delirium and demographic and clinical variables. <br/> <br/> Results <br/> <br/> Of individuals presenting to the mental health clinics, 18.2% had delirium. No demographic variable was significant regarding the presence or absence of delirium. With regard to clinical variables duration of current symptoms, referral source and the presence of comorbid physical illness were significantly associated with the presence of delirium. Most delirium was due to infections. Nearly all patients with delirium were prescribed psychotropic medication (95.2%), and most attributed their symptoms to a spiritual cause.Conclusion(s) Delirium presents more commonly to psychiatry services in the less developed world compared to the West. Development efforts should focus on recognition and management of delirium to improve outcomes and maximise resource