Tax Revenue Mobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does political Legitimacy Matters?

The mobilization of substantial domestic resources is required to finance human and physical capital in order to achieve the sustainable development goals. In developing countries like those of Sub-Saharan Africa, the mobilization of tax revenues remains a great challenge. In this context, identifying the determinants of fiscal capacity remains crucial to guide the adoption of appropriate fiscal reforms. Therefore, as part of the wave of literature on the institutional and political determinants of fiscal capacity, this article explores the effect of political legitimacy on tax revenues in a sample of 41 SSA countries over the period 1996-2017. The system GMM in two steps estimator is used for empirical investigation. The result shows that tax revenue increases with political legitimacy. This result suggests that political legitimization in SSA remains crucial to mobilize more resources in order to adequately finance the development

Evaluation de la mise en œuvre de la Convention sur le Commerce International des Especes de Faune et de Flore Sauvages Menacees d'Extinction (CITES) au Burkina Faso

X, 54, [23] páginas.Trabajo Fin de Máster Propio. Tutores: Dr. Dibloni Ollo Theophile ; Yameogo Dieudonne. Le Burkina Faso est Partie à la Convention sur le Commerce International des Espèces de Faune et de Flore Sauvages menacées d’extinction (CITES) depuis 1989 et a consenti des efforts pour son application. Après une trentaine d’année, il semble important d’apprécier l’efficacité de la mise en œuvre de cette convention. La présente étude conduite de juillet 2022 à mars 2023 vise à caractériser l’importation, l’exportation, la réexportation et la gestion des spécimens saisis et confisqués suivant les principes de préservation des espèces CITES. Il s’agit d’analyser le système juridique, de contrôle mis en place et du cadre de collaboration et de coordination en matière de mise en œuvre de la CITES. L’étude tente aussi de déterminer les enjeux, les lacunes et les besoins relatifs à l’application des dispositions de la CITES au Burkina Faso. L’étude a consisté à des enquêtes sociales auprès des différents acteurs locaux de mise en œuvre de la convention, à l’exploitation des données sur le commerce et l’analyse des copies des permis CITES délivrés et à des interviews semi-structurés à l’endroit des personnes de ressources. Il ressort de cette étude, une connaissance partielle de la CITES par les acteurs locaux. L’analyse des résultats révèle que 70 % des agents d’application de la loi connaissent la CITES en tant que convention et que 53% ont une connaissance sur ses domaines d’interventions, l’organe de gestion, l’autorité scientifique ainsi que les procédures de la convention. Les résultats de l’étude confirment la persistance du trafic illicite des espèces sauvages et Loxodonta africana est l’espèce la plus menacée par ce trafic. Ils montrent aussi que 34% des saisies recensées au cours de l’étude concerne les ivoires. L’étude a également mis en lumière une faible coordination entre les différentes structures de contrôle. Elle fait ressortir l’absence de juridiction spécifique aux infractions environnementales et l’absence de législation spécifique à la CITES. Pour améliorer la mise en œuvre de la CITES au Burkina Faso, il faudra adapter le cadre législatif national de manière à prendre en compte les dispositions de la CITES et renforcer les capacités techniques, financières et humaines des structures en charge du contrôle. La mise en place de cadre formalisé de collaboration entre les structures ayant en charge l’application de la loi est nécessitée, comme aussi l’adoption d’un plan d’action de mise en œuvre de la CITES au Burkina Faso.Burkina Faso has been a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1989 and has made efforts to implement it. After thirty years, it seems important to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of this convention. The present study, conducted from July 2022 to March 2023, aims to characterize the import, export, re-export and management of seized and confiscated specimens according to the principles of preservation of CITES species threatened by over-exploitation. It analyzes the legal and control system in place and the framework for collaboration and coordination in the implementation of CITES. The study also attempts to identify issues, gaps and needs related to the implementation of CITES provisions in Burkina Faso. The study consisted of surveys of the various local actors involved in the implementation of the convention, the analysis of trade data and copies of CITES permits issued, and semi-structured interviews with resource persons. The study revealed a partial knowledge of CITES among local actors. Analysis of the results reveals that 70% of the law enforcement officers are aware of CITES as a convention and 53% have knowledge of its areas of intervention, the management body, the scientific authority and the procedures of the convention. The results of the study confirm the persistence of illegal wildlife trafficking and Loxodonta africana is the species most threatened by this traffic. The results also show that 34% of the seizures recorded during the study concerned ivory. The study also highlighted the weak coordination between the different control structures. It also highlighted the absence of a specific jurisdiction for environmental offenses and the absence of specific CITES legislation. To improve the implementation of CITES in Burkina Faso, the national legislative framework must be adapted to consider the provisions of CITES and the technical, financial, and human capacities of the enforcement structures must be strengthened. The establishment of a formalized framework for collaboration between the structures in charge of law enforcement is necessary, as well as the adoption of an action plan for the implementation of CITES in Burkina Faso

Life Insurance Development and Economic Growth: Evidence from Developing Countries

This article examines the relation between the development of life insurance sector and economic growth, for a sample of 86 developing countries over the period 1996-2011. We also examine the heterogeneous effect of life insurance on growth. The econometric results show on the one hand that the development of life insurance has a positive effect on economic growth per capita and, on the other hand, that this effect varies according to the structural characteristics of countries. Thus, the marginal positive impact of the development of life insurance decreases with the levels of deposit interest rate, bank credit and stock market value traded, while the effect is greater in countries with high-quality institutions. Finally, life insurance effect on growth is less for SSA and British legal system countries, compared to non-SSA and non-British legal system countries

Governance and Private Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Africa is one of the world regions whose development potentials are particularly important. But despite this situation, Africa is one of the continents where poverty exists on a large scale. More than 44 % of the African population lives below the poverty line. Yet, various forms of development strategies have been designed and implemented in the African countries. In 1992, in its publication Governance and Development, the World Bank refers to the quality of government as the cause of the failure of several of these strategies. Attention is henceforth focused on how governments organize the management of state and govern economic activities. The place and the role of institutions in development have been widely discussed in economic literature. It is commonly accepted that the existence of strong and clear rules is a fundamental basis for economic activity. In particular, there is an increasingly agreement on the idea that, in order to stimulate private investment, it is necessary to stabilize the business environment. This study uses the World Bank Doing Business indicators to evaluate the influence of business environment in explaining private investment from a panel of thirty-eight African Sub-Saharan countries over the period 2006-2011. We performed a dynamic panel model using the Generalized Method of Moments estimation. The following evidence globally emerges: burdensome regulations affect private investment while business environment improvement makes investment grow

Do Women’s Parliamentary Representation Increase Government Health Spending in Sub-Saharan Africa?

It is widely recognized in the literature that the increased political participation of marginalized sections of the population allows their interests to be taken into account in public policies. At the same time, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage of women parliamentarians rose from 12.1% in 2000 to 24% in 2019. Likewise, health systems are characterized by public underfunding, limited accessibility of health services, and relatively weak maternal and child health indicators. This article evaluates the effect of women’s parliamentary representation on government health spending in a sample of 39 sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000-2017. The estimates made with fixed effects method, random effects method and panel-corrected standard errors method reveal that government health expenditure increases with the proportion of seats in parliament occupied by women. Therefore, this study advocates for the increase of women participation and representation in political and decision-making spheres. Keywords: Women political participation, health, government health spending, panel data, sub-Sahara Africa DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-18-09 Publication date:September 30th 202

Effects of Corruption on Tertiary School Enrolment in Africa

This paper empirically analyses the effects of control of corruption on tertiary school enrolment in a panel of 44 African countries over the period 1996-2016. Using system Generalized method of moments and controlling for a large number of other determinants of tertiary school enrolment, it finds that, over the sample period, control of corruption has a substantial positive effect. This is probably because control of corruption increases public spending level and effectiveness on tertiary education, increases the return on tertiary education, and ultimately fosters the access to tertiary education specially the poorer strata in the African economies. In the light of this result, an intensification of control of corruption in Africa is imperative to improve the tertiary school enrolment. Keywords: Control of corruption, tertiary school enrolment, System GMM, Africa DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-29-06 Publication date:October 31st 202

Effects of Financial Inclusion on Poverty in WAEMU: Empirical Evidence Through the Channels of Income Inequality and Growth

In WAEMU, financial inclusion has been made a priority with the adoption in 2016 of the Regional Financial Inclusion Strategy. It constitutes a privileged instrument promoting the integration of the most disadvantaged social strata into the economic and social fabric of the Union. This paper examines the contribution of financial inclusion to poverty reduction. The study focuses on the eight WAEMU countries and covers the period 2008-2020. The results obtained by the method of triple least squares show that on the one hand financial inclusion reduces income inequality and subsequently reduces poverty and that on the other hand it does not affect economic growth. Robustness tests indicate that the overall rate of use of financial services reduces poverty both by increasing overall income and by reducing income inequality. These tests also show that for countries not plagued by terrorism, financial inclusion reduces poverty through reduced inequality and increased overall income. On the basis of these results, the paper formulates recommendations that could serve as a guideline for poverty reduction policies in WAEMU. Keywords: Financial inclusion, aggregate income, poverty DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-13-01 Publication date:August 31st 202

Electoral Corruption in Central Africa and Entrenchment of Democratic Culture: A case Study of Cameroon

This paper provides an overview of electoral corruption in Cameroon. The paper is grounded on the assumption that elections are the keystone of modern democracy, and that understanding electoral corruption and addressing its main causes can improve electoral integrity in Cameroon and around Central Africa. This paper provides an overview of electoral corruption in Cameroon. The paper is grounded on the assumption that elections are the keystone of modern democracy, and that understanding electoral corruption and addressing its main causes can improve electoral integrity in Cameroon and around Central Africa.

Assessment of benthic molluscs diversity and distribution in urban reservoirs (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso)

The urban reservoirs n° 2 and n°3 of Ouagadougou, located in the middle of the city are subject to multiple anthropogenic pressures which threaten the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates community group like molluscs. This study was initiated to assess the diversity and distribution of benthic molluscs in these reservoirs. Molluscs samples were collected monthly using an Eckman grab (12 x 20 cm2) between September 2011 and February 2012 in 24 sampling points defined on each reservoir. In parallel, physicochemical variables and water colon depth were measured. After sampling, molluscs were transported to the laboratory for identification. A total of 328 specimens were collected of which 5 species were identified: three species of Gastropods (Bellamya unicolor, Cleopatra bulimoïdes, Lanistes ovum) and two species of Bivalves (Coelatura aegyptiaca, Mutela rostrata). B. unicolor was the most abundant species with 71% of the collected molluscs and preferentially occupied the edges of the reservoir. It was followed by C. aegyptiaca (27%) which was abundant in the central axis of the reservoir. Physicochemical variables influence the distribution of species. For all measured physicochemical factors, B. unicolor was more tolerant than C. aegyptiaca on the occupation of available habitat.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Bivalves, Gastropods, available habitat, physicochemical variables, anthropogenic pressure

Assessing the Consequences of the Economic Partnership Agreement on the Ethiopian Economy

The results presented indicate that a free trade area would reinforce the linkages between Ethiopia and European countries, including traditional partners such as Italy, with implications for the regional integration arrangements that Ethiopia is currently involved in. There will be significant trade diversion away from other African countries currently trading with Ethiopia. The diversion will occur in the lowtechnology sectors, which are potentially good foundations for deepened regional integration based on trade in industrial goods. The results further indicate some important implications with respect to Ethiopia’s industrialization strategy. The liberalization of industrial sectors result in more trade effects, particularly negative trade diversion, compared to the results from agricultural liberalization. The loss in revenue, which is a strong feature in general liberalization, is at the sectoral level, more pronounced in the industrial liberalization. The economic structure of Ethiopia, which supports self-reliance in food from the agriculture sector, underpins the limited losses in agriculture as compared to the industrial sector. Clearly, instead of opening the doors to economic diversification, the EPA could lead Ethiopia to deepen its comparative advantages in agricultural products.Ethiopia- Economic Partnership Agreement- Trade impact