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The Pluralist Paradox. The Decline of Economic Interest Groups in Zambia in the 1990s
Get PDFThe dilemma facing new democracies attempting to implement political and economic reform simultaneously is that democratisation may undermine economic reform by encouraging political participation and empowering interest groups that are unlikely to benefit from reform. This paper compares interest group - government relations under one-party and multiparty rule in Zambia. Contrary to the assumptions of pluralist theory, the paper argues that the influence of interest groups declined as a result of political and economic liberalisation. The evolution of electoral politics resulted in the proliferation of civic associations and the weakening of corporatist links between the state and economic interest groups that had been granted some real influence in the previous authoritarian regime. This 'pluralist paradox' has meant, at least in the initial phases of multi party ru le, that interest group resistance do not constitute a significant threat to the sustainability of the reform programme, nor the electoral prospects of MMD
Impacto do investimento petrolífero Norueguês nos países de acolhimento, com especial ênfase para Angola
Get PDFO presente relatório aborda a forma de como os investimentos petrolíferos Norueguêses, melhor poderão contríbuir para o desenvolvimento indústrial e distribuição uniforme dos dividendos nos países de acolhimento, analisando ainda a forma de como tais investimentos se poderão tornar num factôr de promoção do desenvolvimento social, da melhoria das condições de trabalho, de ambiente, saúde e de defesa dos Direitos Humanos.
Indústria de capital intensivo, o sectôr petrolífero em offshore é tecnológicamente avançado e exigente, tornando-se num enclave em países onde não exista uma indústria de base e massa laboral qualificada. As receitas petrolíferas constituem-se numa percentagem muito grande das receitas públicas e de exportação, num sectôr que paralelamente, potencia muitos poucos postos de trabalho a nível local, o que normalmente origina a concentração de enormes receitas “nas mãos” de alguns poucos. O sectôr petrolífero tem pois tendência para potenciar um grande volume de receitas na fase de arranque, mas pouco desenvolvimento, circunstância que pode ser contrariada, quer através de uma gestão eficaz da macro-economia por forma a implementar medidas que evitem o sobreaquecimento desta e dêem espaço ao sectôr privado no resto do país, quer através de uma política consciente visando o nívelamento dos rendimentos da população. Ambições difíceis de concretizar, sendo poucos os países exportadôres de petróleo em vias de desenvolvimento que alcançaram tal objectivo, por sinal prácticamente impossivel de realizar em Angola ante as actuais circunstâncias de guerra cívil e ausência de instituições capazes de um funcionamento adequado para o efeito.
O relatório sublinha ainda a possibilidade de as companhías petrolíferas poderem contribuír com a transposição de conhecimentos e competências junto dos técnicos e da companhia Estatal, assegurando além disso que a exploração dos recursos seja efectuada de uma forma efectiva, respeitando o meio-ambiente. O desenvolvimento sócio económico do país é entretanto, da inteira e única responsabilidade das autoridades locais. As autoridades Norueguêsas poderão eventualmente contribuír com apoio técnico e económico, mas sublinha-se a imperativa necessidade de uma definição de papeis e desempenhos entre a tutela e as companhías petrolíferas
Civil Society in Tanzania
Get PDFThere has been a tremendous growth in non-governmental organisations in Tanzania over the last decades, and with the many reforms presently taking place, the civil society is expected to play a central role in both service delivery and the development of democracy.
This report provides an overview of the complex civic sector in Tanzania and the dynamics within it. The study focuses on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a special emphasis on advocacy organisations and organisations active in social service delivery (district development trusts and religious organisations). While the former are donor depended, the latter are able to mobilise local resources.
Both NGO and CBO activities are concentrated in the areas that were privileged already in the colonial times. As the local government reform may increase regional and religious differences, donors are adviced to pay increased attention to these issues when supporting local organisations.
The main challenge in further support to civil society in Tanzania is to enhance popular participation and to support processes which mobilises local resources. The report suggests that mass media and popular culture should be used to disseminate both the new sectoral policies and reforms as well as awareness programmes that may engender increased popular participation in the development process
Patterns of foreign direct investment in poor countries
Get PDFThis paper introduces endogenous adoption costs for productive assets in a Ramsey type growth model with international capital flows. There are two classes of productive assets: owner-specific and location-specific. Adoption costs are an increasing function of the level of technology embodied in the investor's owner-specific assets and a declining function of the host country's location-specific assets. In this setting the observed pattern of international capital flows is consistent with diminishing returns to capital. Further, our model predicts the sectoral allocation of investment and output observed in the South
Economic growth, employment, and decentralised development in Sri Lanka
Get PDFThis Working Paper describes the economic growth rate and patterns in Sri Lanka during the 1990s, showing the interrelationship between uneven sectorial growth and the unbalanced regional growth patterns. This is reflected in the regional distribution of unemployment and poverty. In addition, the ongoing war in the North and East has resulted in economic decline in affected areas. Secondly, the paper outlines policy measures aimed at stimulating economic activities in the regions, and underlines the need for creating a conducive environment at the regional and district level. Thirdly, the opportunities for investment in sectors with higher potential in less developed areas are reviewed. Donors may support efforts to eliminate bottlenecks and facilitate sectors that will become profitable on a sustainable basis in the regions
Gullfaks - the first Norwegian oil field developed and operated by Norwegian companies
Get PDFThis case study analyses the market for oil-related producer services for the Gullfaks oil field in the Norwegian part of the North Sea. We find that the market is highly concentrated, the Norwegian market share is extensive, and foreign companies service the Norwegian market mainly from their Norwegian subsidiaries. Relational contracts between the oil company and the service suppliers are most common during the operation/production phase and in the non-maritime services sector. We find a negative correlation between Norwegian market share and the extent of relational contracts in the market. Turning to sources of technology, we find that producer services have played a crucial role in the transfer of technology from multinational oil and offshore industries to the Norwegian petroleum sector. The channels of technology diffusion appear to have been agreements of technical assistance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, foreign direct investments and employment of foreign professional staff on a contractual basis. It is, however, more difficult to identify technology diffusion from the Gullfaks field to the economy at large
The Snorre Field and the Rise and Fall of Saga Petroleum
Get PDFThis paper presents a case study of the Snorre field development focusing on the market for oil-related services related to the development of the oil field. The Snorre field was the first field developed by Saga Petroleum and it was also a step into deeper waters using floating technology in Norway. The Norwegian supply industry became world leaders in the TLP floating technology applied for the Snorre field. We find that the market for oil-related services is highly concentrated, the Norwegian market share is extensive, and foreign companies service the Norwegian market mainly from their Norwegian subsidiaries. We also find a strong negative correlation between Norwegian market share and competition measured by the number of bidders per contract. Relational contracts between the oil company and the service suppliers are most common during the operation/production phase and in the non-maritime services sector. Turning to sources of technology, we find that producer services have played a crucial role in the transfer of technology from multinational oil and offshore industries to the Norwegian petroleum sector. The TLP technology was first developed in the US for floating airfields and came to Norway through cooperation with multinational oil companies and local R&D work. Other channels of technology diffusion appear to have been agreements of technical assistance, joint ventures, foreign direct investments and employment of foreign professional staff on a contractual basis. It is, however, more difficult to identify technology diffusion from the Snorre field to the economy at large
Oil-related producer services and productivity - the case of Norway
Get PDFThe petroleum sector is a service-intensive industry. The quality, price and availability of services are therefore important for the productivity level in the petroleum sector. This paper analyses data on the Norwegian petroleum sector’s purchases of services and estimates the contribution of service input to productivity. It is found that specialisation in the service sector, measured by the number of service suppliers in the market, contributes significantly to the level of productivity of capital equipment. Specialisation in services also contributes directly to productivity in oil and gas, but the results are significant only at a 10 per cent level. We argue that an open market for oil-related services is likely to improve productivity in the Norwegian petroleum sector
Bangladesh: Severe Poverty and a Well Functioning Economy?
Get PDFThis is the first report on Bangladesh under the Country Advisor Agreement between the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD), the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) and the Nordic Consulting Group (NCG). The report consists of two parts. Part 1 comprises an assessment and overview of the prevailing macro-economic situation in Bangladesh. With this background, the second part focuses on the way in which the Government, through their expenditures on the social sectors, is targeting the poor. The analytical approach is based on a decomposition method where public expenditure is divided between sectors and subsectors.
It is found that the public expenditure ratio in Bangladesh is low compared to other developing countries. At the same time, the social allocation ratio is high but the ultimate human development impact, as reflected in human development indicators, is low. This indicates that the social priority ratio must be increased. It is therefore argued that efforts must be made to improve the quality of public services, especially for primary education.
In addition to the two main parts, a database on social and economic indicators has been created