Essays on the Empirical Analysis of Economic and Political Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Chaiwat, Thanee (2013) Essays on the Empirical Analysis of Economic and Political Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, [Dissertation thesis], Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna. Dottorato di ricerca in Economia, 24 Ciclo. DOI 10.6092/unibo/amsdottorato/6030.
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Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, non-democratic events, like civil wars and coup d'etat, destroy economic development. This study investigates both domestic and spatial effects on the likelihood of civil wars and coup d'etat. To civil wars, an increase of income growth is one of common research conclusions to stop wars. This study adds a concern on ethnic fractionalization. IV-2SLS is applied to overcome causality problem. The findings document that income growth is significant to reduce number and degree of violence in high ethnic fractionalized countries, otherwise they are trade-off. Income growth reduces amount of wars, but increases its violent level, in the countries with few large ethnic groups. Promoting growth should consider ethnic composition. This study also investigates the clustering and contagion of civil wars using spatial panel data models. Onset, incidence and end of civil conflicts spread across the network of neighboring countries while peace, the end of conflicts, diffuse only with the nearest neighbor. There is an evidence of indirect links from neighboring income growth, without too much inequality, to reduce the likelihood of civil wars. To coup d'etat, this study revisits its diffusion for both all types of coups and only successful ones. The results find an existence of both domestic and spatial determinants in different periods. Domestic income growth plays major role to reduce the likelihood of coup before cold war ends, while spatial effects do negative afterward. Results on probability to succeed coup are similar. After cold war ends, international organisations seriously promote democracy with pressure against coup d'etat, and it seems to be effective. In sum, this study indicates the role of domestic ethnic fractionalization and the spread of neighboring effects to the likelihood of non-democratic events in a country. Policy implementation should concern these factors.

Abstract
Tipologia del documento
Tesi di dottorato
Autore
Chaiwat, Thanee
Supervisore
Dottorato di ricerca
Scuola di dottorato
Scienze economiche e statistiche
Ciclo
24
Coordinatore
Settore disciplinare
Settore concorsuale
Parole chiave
Instrumental Variables; Civil War; Civil Violence; Economic Growth; Ethnic Fractionalization; Africa; Geography; Cluster; Diffusion; Spatial Analysis; Contagion Process; Rainfall; Conflict; Coup; Commodity Prices; Spatial Econometrics
URN:NBN
DOI
10.6092/unibo/amsdottorato/6030
Data di discussione
16 Settembre 2013
URI

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