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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Fate and fear: risk and its consequences in Africa
Author:Dercon, StefanISNI
Year:2008
Periodical:Journal of African Economies
Volume:17 Supplement
Issue:2
Pages:97-127
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subjects:risk
economic behaviour
standard of living
social research
External link:https://jae.oxfordjournals.org/content/17/suppl_2/ii97.full.pdf
Abstract:This paper reviews the evidence on risk and its consequences in Africa. It argues that too much attention has been given to the risk management and coping mechanisms used by households, and not enough on its implications and the scope for interventions. Much of the empirical work on risk in developing countries has also focused largely on the short-run implications and has ignored the long run. Risk and shocks have important long-run implications for growth and poverty, and distinguishing risk from shocks adds further insights. A few key missing dimensions in the work on risk and its consequences in Africa are also explored. First, microeconomic research on risk has limited itself to work on risks that are 'easy' to analyse, such as weather shocks. These risks are still dominating the life of many of the poor, dependent on agricultural production, but are not necessarily central to the growth and poverty tragedy in Africa, which is driven by the lack of African and foreign investment in Africa. In particular, the risks related to poorly functioning markets and economic and political institutions have been under-researched by microeconomists, often leaving the initiative to macroeconomic research. A few examples are offered that appear to start tackling these questions. Finally, research on risk and its implications has to embrace more seriously the experimental and behavioural literature. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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