Code and Data for: Washington Consensus Reforms and Lessons for Economic Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Belinda Archibong, Barnard College, Columbia University; Brahima Coulibaly, Brookings Institution; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Brookings Institution

Version: View help for Version V1

Name	File Type	Size	Last Modified
20.11.04 WC_Database.xlsx	application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet	628.7 KB	07/01/2021 08:32:PM
BCN_jep.R	text/x-rsrc	6.4 KB	07/01/2021 08:21:PM
README.pdf	application/pdf	65.3 KB	07/01/2021 08:26:PM
comm_table.csv	text/csv	366 bytes	05/19/2021 07:18:AM
debt_table.csv	text/csv	356 bytes	12/01/2020 06:43:PM
gdp_table.csv	text/csv	292 bytes	12/01/2020 06:27:PM
gdppc.csv	text/csv	373 bytes	07/01/2021 06:19:PM
hipc2.csv	text/csv	1.1 KB	05/19/2021 07:39:AM
inflation.csv	text/csv	475 bytes	07/01/2021 05:14:PM
ssa_cty1.csv	text/csv	1.2 KB	07/01/2021 05:14:PM

Project Citation:

Archibong, Belinda, Coulibaly, Brahima , and Okonjo-Iweala, Ngozi . Code and Data for: Washington Consensus Reforms and Lessons for Economic Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2021. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2021-07-26. https://doi.org/10.3886/E140821V1

Project Description

Summary: Over three decades after market-oriented structural reforms, termed "Washington consensus" policies, were first implemented, we revisit the evidence on policy adoption and the effects of these policies on socio-economic performance in sub-Saharan African countries. We focus on three key ubiquitous reform policies around privatization, fiscal discipline, and trade openness and document significant improvements in economic performance for reformers over the past two decades. Following initial declines in per capita economic growth over the 1980s and 1990s, reform adopters experienced notable increases in per capita real GDP growth in the post 2000 period. We complement aggregate analysis with four country case studies that highlight important lessons for effective reform. Notably, the ability to implement pro-poor policies alongside market oriented reforms played a central role in successful policy performance.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: Africa; Policy; economic policy

JEL Classification:
      N37 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: Africa; Oceania
      O12 Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
      O43 Institutions and Growth

Geographic Coverage: Africa

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Published Versions

V1 [2021-07-26]

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