Crises, Reforms, and Regime Persistence in Sub-Saharan Africa

In: European journal of political economy, Band 21, Heft 3, S. 688-707

Abstract

African countries have experienced pervasive rent-seeking & repeated coups d'etat. I model these features to show how rent-reducing economic reforms deter coups & allow regime persistence. An incumbent ruler may choose to risk an attempted coup in the hope of surviving & obtaining high future rents. A permanent crisis that reduces future rents may be necessary for reforms, particularly if the regime is limited in its ability to credibly implement reforms. The model yields insights into the incidence of political instability & reforms in sub-Saharan African. The Ghanaian & Nigerian experiences are used as examples. Figures, Appendixes, References. [Copyright 2005 Elsevier B.V.]