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In search of structural change surplus and perpetual growth in Ethiopia: Examining alternative sectoral growth options, an application of recursive dynamic CGE model

Zerayehu Sime Eshete (University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya)
Peter Kiko Kimuyu (School of Economics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya)

African Journal of Economic and Management Studies

ISSN: 2040-0705

Article publication date: 13 June 2016

186

Abstract

Purpose

The Ethiopian economy is characterized by erratic and poor performance with negative growth rates, seven times over the period 1981-2010. This trapped per capita income at 358 USD in 2010 staying far away from middle-income country status. A lot of unsolved debates regarding perpetual growth, structural change and sectoral allocation of resource emerged overtime. The purpose of this paper is to examine the alternative effects of induced sectoral total factor productivity and makes comparisons of various sectoral growth options.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model based on neoclassical-structuralist thought. It also calibrates coefficients that capture the impacts of openness, imported capital and liberalization on sectoral total factor productivity growth using a model of vector auto-regressive with exogenous variables.

Findings

Future economic growth rate is expected to grow at a declining trend and to be dominated by the service sector. If it keeps growing on the current path it will expose the economy to a severe structural change burden problem. Openness induced agricultural total factor productivity highly improves the welfare of households while imported capital goods induced industrial total factor productivity is also better in fostering structural change of the economy. The broad-based growth option that combines the induced total factor productivity of all sectors also enables the economy to achieve more sustainable growth, rapid structural change and welfare gain at the same time.

Originality/value

There are intensive and charged debates regarding alternative sectoral growth options. However, the debate does not derive from a rigorous analysis and holistic economy-wide approach. It is rather affiliated with politics. Therefore, the paper is original and investigates these issues meticulously.

Keywords

Citation

Eshete, Z.S. and Kimuyu, P.K. (2016), "In search of structural change surplus and perpetual growth in Ethiopia: Examining alternative sectoral growth options, an application of recursive dynamic CGE model", African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 241-255. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJEMS-10-2013-0096

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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