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on Africa |
| By: | Denis Cogneau (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Zhexun Mo (Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality, WIL - World Inequality Lab) |
| Abstract: | We examine the enforcement of two pillars of colonial rule in French West Africa, military conscription and head tax collection, using novel district-level data from 1919 to 1949. Colonial states are often characterized as either omnipotent Leviathans or administration on the cheap. Our findings reveal their notable coerciveness in achieving key objectives. Military recruitment targets were consistently met, even amid individual avoidance and poor health conditions, by drawing on a pool of eligible fit young men. Tax compliance was similarly high, with approximately 80% of the liable population meeting obligations. Spikes in head tax rates significantly increased tax-related protests, likely prompting caution among colonial administrators. The tax burden was adjusted according to perceived district affluence, and tax moderation was applied in times of crisis. However, local shocks such as droughts or cash crop price collapses were largely ignored. These results underscore the capacity of colonial states to enforce their authority despite limited policy responsiveness, offering new insights into the political economy of colonial governance. |
| Keywords: | Colonialism, State Capacity, Taxation, Compliance, Conflict, Military Conscription, West Africa, French Colonial Empire |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-04823289 |
| By: | Fontana Marzia |
| Abstract: | Austerity policies often prescribed as the remedy for economic crises tend to exacerbate gender inequalities as well as other inequalities. This paper asks what alternative macro-level policy responses are possible to alleviate the negative distributional effects of a crisis and build better foundations for a gender-equitable economy. It focuses on fiscal policy and considers Egypt and Kenya, two African countries with distinct gendered economic structures. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:5f3b9845-4b45-4c36-afaf-4a68b8074e6c |
| By: | Karim El Aynaoui |
| Abstract: | This paper (see pages: 182-186), included in the report 'Foresight Africa - Top Priorities for the Continent 2025-2030, ' was originally published on brookings.edu In an increasingly fragmented world grappling with common challenges such as the global climate crisis, the Atlantic Ocean can be leveraged for Africa’s climate action, continental integration, contribution to the provision of global public goods, development, improved participation to the global economy, international cooperation, and peace and security. The global context in which this opportunity should be seized is two-pronged. On the one hand, in recent years, geopolitical conflict has blocked multilateral institutions, fueled military expenditures, increased barriers to investment and trade restrictions, and led to a surge in violent deaths and forced displacement. It is against this backdrop that internationalized civil wars in the Great Lakes, Horn, and Sahel regions, the effects of which have often been compounded by climate change, have claimed hundreds of thousands of African lives and displaced millions. Geo-economic fragmentation driven by heightened competition over global influence, technology, and manufacturing jobs and value added adds another layer of complexity. For instance, the disruption of global value chains triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war increased the number of people suffering from acute food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa by 40 million in 2020-22 alone, giving an indication of Africa’s vulnerability to trade imbalances. On the other hand, nations have also demonstrated increased appetites for entering agreements with each other. Minilateralism and multi-alignment are becoming commonplace. New international coalitions, groupings, fora, and organizations have blossomed on topics such as biodiversity, clean energy, economic cooperation, food security, and technology. In the face of global challenges, the contribution of nations to global initiatives aiming at the delivery of global public goods is an increasingly important aspect of policymaking and smart power... |
| Date: | 2025–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ocp:pbecon:for_182 |
| By: | Maghniwi Rachid (UM5 - Université Mohammed V de Rabat [Agdal]); Pr Oukassi Mustapha (UM5 - Université Mohammed V de Rabat [Agdal]) |
| Abstract: | Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative force in a rapidly evolving banking landscape. This groundbreaking study explores the revolutionary impact of AI on managing the commercial performance of bank branches in Morocco, a market at the forefront of digital innovation. Through a rigorous empirical analysis conducted on the country's three banking giants-Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), and Bank of Africa (BMCE)-our research unveils the mechanisms by which AI is redefining the sector's commercial and operational strategies.The study draws on a representative sample of 150 bank branches, carefully selected to reflect the diversity of the Moroccan market. Our findings, of considerable scope, highlight the significant competitive advantages offered by AI: augmented decision-making, unprecedented customer personalization, and transformed operational efficiency.Beyond the numbers, this research offers a dive into the reality of the AI revolution within Moroccan bank branches. It reveals how AI, far from being a mere technological tool, is becoming a catalyst for cultural and strategic change. Our analysis uncovers Moroccan banks' unique challenges and novel opportunities in their quest for innovation and leadership in the African market. |
| Abstract: | Dans un paysage bancaire en rapide évolution, l'Intelligence Artificielle (IA) émerge comme une force transformatrice. Cette étude novatrice explore l'impact révolutionnaire de l'IA sur la gestion de la performance commerciale des agences bancaires au Maroc, un marché à l'avant-garde de l'innovation numérique. À travers une analyse empirique rigoureuse menée sur les trois géants bancaires du pays - Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) et Bank of Africa (BMCE) - notre recherche dévoile les mécanismes par lesquels l'IA redéfinit les stratégies commerciales et opérationnelles du secteur. L'étude s'appuie sur un échantillon représentatif de 150 agences bancaires, soigneusement sélectionnées pour refléter la diversité du marché marocain. Nos résultats, d'une portée considérable, mettent en lumière les avantages concurrentiels significatifs offerts par l'IA : une prise de décision augmentée, une personnalisation client sans précédent et une efficacité opérationnelle transformée. Au-delà des chiffres, cette recherche offre une plongée dans la réalité de la révolution de l'IA au sein des agences bancaires marocaines. Elle révèle comment l'IA, loin d'être un simple outil technologique, devient un catalyseur de changement culturel et stratégique. Notre analyse met au jour les défis uniques et les nouvelles opportunités auxquels font face les banques marocaines dans leur quête d'innovation et de leadership sur le marché africain. |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04894491 |