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importance of diversification Tagged Articles
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4.0 Diversification trends in Africa: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| The diversification of African economies is one way through which the recent economic
growth achievements could be sustained. Africa’s economic transformation
can be achieved through both horizontal and vertical diversification. In addition,
such diversification will help to build competitive economies that can productively
be integrated into the global economy. Diversification is therefore a pre-condition if
Africa is to register accelerated development. The scaling-up of current real growth
to desired levels and in a broad manner can also be sustained if there is deepening in
the diversification of African economies. |
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Other importance of diversification Related Articles
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4.0 Diversification trends in Africa: Economic Report on Africa 2007
| |
| The diversification of African economies is one way through which the recent economic
growth achievements could be sustained. Africa’s economic transformation
can be achieved through both horizontal and vertical diversification. In addition,
such diversification will help to build competitive economies that can productively
be integrated into the global economy. Diversification is therefore a pre-condition if
Africa is to register accelerated development. The scaling-up of current real growth
to desired levels and in a broad manner can also be sustained if there is deepening in
the diversification of African economies. |
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4.1 Diversification trends at the regional level: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| Figure 4.1 shows three different measures of diversification for African economies as
a whole (see Ben Hammouda et al. (2006a) for detailed definition of the indices of diversification). Three concise comments on the general trend of Africa’s diversification
experience can be made. |
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4.2 Diversification regimes in Africa: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| Analysing the various diversification indices and the structure of the top ten export
commodities for selected countries over the last two decades and a half provides
some useful insights which can be used to define diversification regimes that characterize
Africa. Five diversification regimes can be identified from Africa’s experience
(see Ben Hammouda et al. 2006b). These regimes should not be viewed as steps
or as a continuum that a country must follow as it moves from a concentrated to
a diversified economy. Rather, the regimes are a result of the policy actions that a
country has set in place over a given period of time. The particular regime that a
country falls into is likely to be the result of a mix among the various diversification
determinants. |
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5.1 Determinants of diversification in Africa: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| Diversification and policy variables constitute a two-way process in that diversification
not only influences policy outcomes, but is itself influenced by policy variables.
This proposition naturally leads to the search for those economic and non-economic
policy actions that are likely to affect the level and rate of diversification in a country.
What evidence is there that links economic and non-economic variables with
national capacity to diversify? |
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5.1 Investment is vital for an economy to diversify: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| The inverse relationship between investment and the diversification index shown in
table A5.1 indicates that as the level of investments increases, there is a tendency for
economies to become more diversified. The smaller the diversification index gets, the
more diversified an economy becomes, and vice-versa for specialization. Unless a
country commits a sufficient portion of its national income to building capital stock,
it is unlikely to be able to diversify. Investment as measured by gross fixed capital
formation turns out to be a key determinant to Africa’s diversification results. |
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5.1 Fiscal space is critical for diversification: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| The positive but insignificant result for the impact of fiscal balance on diversification
shows that macro stability plays a role for the success of diversification efforts. At the
same time, a proactive fiscal policy, especially in terms of promoting public investment,
can support efforts towards diversification. |
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5.1 The results vary by diversification regime: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| At this point, it is worthwhile to recall the five diversification regimes: those countries
with little diversification; countries that started but got stuck in the diversification
process; those with deepened diversification; backsliders in diversification; and
the conflict and post-conflict countries. This report suggests that belonging to a
particular regime has more to do with policy and institutional factors at the country
level. Consequently, there are different determinants when the discussion is brought
to the country level (see table A5.2 for correlation results). |
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5.2 Diversification-deepening policies raise growth and TFP: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| What then do these results imply? They mean that pursuing diversification-deepening
policies could help accelerate growth. Important policy implications of this link
arise with respect to the determinants of diversification that were discussed earlier in the chapter. |
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6.3 Financial sector links between investment and diversification: Economic Report on Africa 2007
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| With regard to financial sector policies, the starting point is the clear link between
investment and diversification. The contribution of private investment to desirable
diversification outcomes cannot be gainsaid. |
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Markets go upmarkets go down How is it affecting you
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| James Dicks shares the importance of investment diversification in your personal portfolio |
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