Benin is a small, slow-growing economy whose development relies on two sources of rent that are controlled by self-centred elites: cotton export and illegal cross-border trade with Nigeria. Patrimonialism governs Beninese society as a forceful struggle for political power takes place between the oligarchs who control these sources and use them as formidable levers of power. State Capture and Rent-Seeking in Benin argues that this struggle causes the instability and unpredictability of economic policies, resulting in institutional problems that make economic diversification and growth difficult. Based on a thorough account of the economic, social, and political development of Benin, this institutional diagnostic provides a detailed analysis of its critical institution- and development-sensitive areas such as electoral campaign finance, state capture by business and elites, management of the cotton sector, the tax effort, the informal trading between Benin and Nigeria, and the political economy of land reform.
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Part I. An Overview of Economic and Institutional Constraints on Benin's Development: 1. The spatial, historical and socio-political context Platteau; 2. Exploring the reasons behind modest economic performances Houssa-Reding; 3. Quality of institutions: lessons from quantitative and qualitative evidence Houssa-Bourguignon; Part II. A Deeper Investigation of Some Key Sectors and Institutions: 4. Campaign finance and state capture Ch, Hounkpe and Wantchekon, with discussion by Cruz; 5. The cotton sector: history of a capture Honfoga, Houssa, Dedehouanou, with discussion by Thériault; 6. The tax effort: a comparison between Sub-Saharan Africa and Benin Caldeira and Rota-Graziosi, with discussion by Médé; 7. The political economy of land reform Lavigne Delville, with discussion by Houngbedji; 8. The critical role of informal trading with Nigeria Golub-Mbaye, with discussion by Igué; Part III. Synthesis: 9. A patrimonial regime with multiple oligarchs Bourguignon-Platteau.
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Account of Benin's economic, social and political development over recent decades, diagnosing it's development hindering institutional weaknesses and needed reforms.
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781009278539
Publisert
2023-11-23
Utgiver
Vendor
Cambridge University Press
Vekt
790 gr
Høyde
235 mm
Bredde
155 mm
Dybde
30 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
400