Imports and growth in Africa

Abstract

Broad comparisons show that growth is linked to imports, but country coomparisons over short periods show the link to be more flexible than fixed. In these stringent times, the big question for African countries is whether they can reduce their historically high import dependence? Or put differently, can they resume growth without substantially increasing imports? What emerges from this analysis is that some policy changes and structural adjsutments in Africa can change traditional import intensities. But if African countries are to achieve faster sustained growth, imports will need to increase substantially from the recently depressed levels. Also, the countries will need to use those imports far more efficiently than in the past.Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Achieving Shared Growth,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Inequality