The export performance of Sub-Saharan Africa has lagged behind that of developing countries in other regions for the past two decades, and total export proceeds have fallen significantly since 1980. Many factors explain this outcome, including continued concentration in slowly-growing non-fuel...

The gains from insurance arise from the transfer of income across states. Yet, by requiring that the premium be paid upfront, standard insurance products also transfer income across time. We show that this intertemporal transfer can help explain low insurance demand, especially among the poor,...

Innovative business models supported by digital technologies, together with the widening connectivity and data collection, are already giving a big contribution in fostering the access to electricity and clean cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper gives an overview on the actual state of...

We measure the impact of a reduction in transaction costs on crop area and production decisions of smallholder tobacco growers in Malawi. For identification we exploit the introduction of an additional tobacco auction floor. Estimations are based on annual data by Extension Planning Area. A 10%...

Polygyny is an institution with deep roots in West Africa. Many papers have attempted to explain the rationality and persistence of this phenomenon through time. Less effort has been devoted to studying the effect of polygyny on household economic behavior. This question is policy relevant given...

Investment in agriculture is very crucial in the present situation of Nigeria. The effort to overcome food insecurity can only be efficacious if steps in the right direction will be taken. At this juncture in the Nigerian economic history, the right step to take is to adequately finance...

This article seeks to explain Africa's current quot;period of unparalleled economic success,quot; following decades of economic stagnation. Using newly available data, we investigate whether international commodity price increases (our quot;metalsquot; hypothesis) or policy reforms (our...

In face of increased efforts to mitigate climate change, biofuels may be included in reduction plans forgreenhouse gas emissions. Feedstock for first generation biofuels and food crops both use arable land andmay compete for it. Also, fuel is an input for the production and transport of food....

This paper analyses a large public investment in a construction of a hydropower plant in Lesotho and its implications on the growth and debt sustainability. The paper employs an open economy dynamic general equilibrium model to assess the benefits of a large public investment through...

We study the impact of the TseTse fly—which is unique to Africa and transmits an epidemic disease harmful to humans and lethal to livestock—on modern financial development in Africa. Exploiting newly georeferenced firm data across the world, we discover that firms in regions that met the...