Are the Cheetahs Tracking the Tigers? Probing High Growth Rates in Africa

Abstract

African economies are growing. Between 2000 and 2007, GDP growth for the whole region averaged 4.4 per cent. Five countries managed to grow by more than 7 per cent. This magical number is often used as a benchmark for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In another 14 countries, growth rates were at 5–6 per cent, even despite negative per capita growth for 12 of the 47 sub-Saharan countries. For instance, growth shrank by 5.6 per cent in Zimbabwe, by 2.2 in Cote d’Ivoire, by 3.3 per cent in Eritrea, and by 1.4 per cent in the Central African Republic.

As economias africanas estão crescendo. Entre 2000 e 2007, o crescimento do PIB para toda a região