Economic Structural Adjustment Policies Research Articles

Publishing in Africa from Independence to the Present Day

Indigenous publishing is integral to national identity and development: cultural, social, and economic. Such publishing reflects a people’s history and experience, belief systems, and their concomitant expressions through language, writing, and art. In turn, a people’s interaction with other cultures is informed by their published work. Publishing preserves, enhances, and develops a society’s culture and its interaction with others. In Africa, indigenous publishers continue to seek autonomy to pursue these aims: free from the constraints of the colonial past, the strictures of economic structural adjustment policies, the continuing dominance of multinational publishers (particularly in textbooks), regressive language policies, and lack of recognition by African governments of the economic and cultural importance of publishing. African publishers seek to work collectively, to harness the digital age, and to take their place in the international marketplace on equal terms, Africa’s own voice.

Publishing in Africa from Independence to the Present Day

Indigenous publishing is integral to national identity and development: cultural, social, and economic. Such publishing reflects a people’s history and experience, belief systems, and their concomitant expressions through language, writing, and art. In turn, a people’s interaction with other cultures is informed by their published work. Publishing preserves, enhances, and develops a society’s culture and its interaction with others. In Africa, indigenous publishers continue to seek autonomy to pursue these aims: free from the constraints of the colonial past, the strictures of economic structural adjustment policies, the continuing dominance of multinational publishers (particularly in textbooks), regressive language policies, and lack of recognition by African governments of the economic and cultural importance of publishing. African publishers seek to work collectively, to harness the digital age, and to take their place in the international marketplace on equal terms, Africa’s own voice.

The Zimbabwe Crisis and the Provision of Social Services

Historically, health care in Zimbabwe was provided primarily to cater to colonial administrators and the expatriate, with separate care or second-provision made for Africans. There was no need for legislation to guarantee its provision to the settler community. To address the inequities in health that had existed prior to 1980, at independence, Zimbabwe adopted the concept of Equity in Health and Primary Health Care. Initially, this resulted in the narrowing of the gap between health provision in rural areas and urban areas. Over the years, however, there have been clear indications of growing inequities in health provision and health care as a result of mainly Economic Structural Adjustment Policies (ESAP), 1991–1995, and health policy changes. Infant and child mortality have been worsened by the impact of HIV/AIDS and reduced access to affordable essential health care. For example, life expectancy at birth was 56 in the 1980s, increased to 60 in 1990 and is now about 43. Morbidity (diseases) and mortality (death rates) trends in Zimbabwe show that the population is still affected by the traditional preventable diseases and conditions that include nutritional deficiencies, communicable diseases, pregnancy and childbirth conditions and the conditions of the new born. The deterioration of the Zimbabwean health services sector has also partially been due to increasing shortages of qualified personnel. The public sector has been operating with only 19 per cent staff since 2000. Many qualified and competent health workers left the country because of the unfavourable political environment. The health system in Zimbabwe has been operating under a legal and policy framework that in essence does not recognize the right to health. Neither the pre-independence constitution nor the Lancaster House constitution, which is the current Constitution of Zimbabwe, made specific provisions for the right to health. Progress made in the 1980s characterized by adequate financing of the health system and decentralized health management and equity of health services between urban and rural areas, which saw dramatic increases in child survival rates and life expectancy, was, unfortunately, not consolidated. As of 2000 per capita health financing stood at USD 8.55 as compared to USD 23.6, which had been recommended by the Commission of Review into the Health Sector in 1997. At the beginning of 2008 it had been dramatically further eroded and stood at only USD 0.19 leading to the collapse of the health system. Similarly, education in Zimbabwe, in addition to the changes it has undergone during the different periods since attainment of independence, also went through many phases during the colonial period. From 1962 up until 1980, the Rhodesia Front government catered more for the European child. Luckily, some mission schools that had been established earlier kept on expanding taking in African children who could proceed with secondary education (high school education). Inequity in education existed when the ZANU-PF government came into power in 1980. It took aggressive and positive steps to redress the inequalities that existed in the past. Unfortunately, the government did not come up with an education policy or philosophy in spite of massive expansion and investment. The government had cut its expenditure on education because of economic and political instability. This has happened particularly in rural areas, where teachers have left the teaching profession.

Education, Earnings, and Inequality in Brazil, 1982-1998: Implications for Education Policy

The average Brazilian worker in 1998 had received more years of schooling than comparable workers in 1982. During the same period, Brazil went through a series of economic structural adjustment policies. This article investigates how these 2 simultaneous advances altered the relationship between labor market earnings and education. We find that the economic reward for staying in school for 1 more year fundamentally changed from 1982 to 1998. Returns to tertiary education increased sharply, whereas returns to primary and lower secondary education dropped, 26% and 35%, respectively. In the same time period, wage inequality was reduced. We argue that this reduction was linked to a reduction in returns to schooling and was only secondarily linked to a more equitable distribution of schooling. Moreover, our findings suggest that the available supply of highly skilled labor inadequately meets demand. Therefore, policy action aiming at increasing access and completion of tertiary education is desirable. An increased supply would improve prospects for both economic growth and reductions in wage inequality.

Coffee: Is it Still a Viable Cash Crop for Smallholders in Africa?

Smallholder coffee production in Africa has declined over the last 10 years due to a combination of unfavourable producer prices, inefficient marketing and the high cost of inputs resulting from economic structural adjustment policies and lack of credit facilities. Although there is currently a surplus of coffee on the world market and prices may remain low for some time as a result, the ‘fair trade’ sector is expanding, offering a marketing opportunity for smallholders. This article examines some of the problems currently facing the smallholder sector in Africa and suggests that adapting the principles of integrated crop management (ICM) to the needs of coffee smallholders can contribute to the profitability and sustainability of the sector.

Education, Earnings, and Inequality in Brazil, 1982-1998: Implications for Education Policy

The educational attainment of Brazil's labor force, has gradually increased over the past two decades. At the same time, the government has pursued a series of economic structural adjustment policies. The authors investigate how these simultaneous advances have altered the relationship between labor market earnings, and education. They find that the returns to education in the labor market, fundamentally changed between 1982, and 1998. While the returns to tertiary education increased sharply, the returns to primary education dropped by 26 percent, and those to lower secondary, by 35 percent. Moreover, the authors argue, the marginal reduction in wage inequality that occurred in this period was linked primarily to a reduction in the returns to schooling, and only secondarily, to a more equitable distribution of schooling. The findings suggest that the supply of highly skilled labor is inadequate to meet demand. That suggests a need for policy action aimed at increasing access to, and completion of tertiary education. Increasing the supply of highly skilled labor, would improve prospects for both economic growth, and reduce wage inequality.

The woes of economic reform: poverty and income inequality in Fiji

Amongst the major development problems facing many of the developing countries is the increasing levels of poverty and income inequality. Economic growth in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s was seen as a panacea for reducing poverty. While the key to development progress is still achieving economic growth, the means to do so is based on the ability of governments to move towards a free market type economy. The concern today is the impact of economic structural adjustment policies (SAPs) on the levels of poverty and inequality. In most cases the evidence on the impact of SAPs shows that despite sustained economic growth the poverty level has increased in many developing countries and Fiji is not an exception. The move towards free market reforms is being increasingly questioned as a policy measure and its ability to have positive impact on the reduction of poverty and income inequality. The criticism of the free market approach is its failure to take account of institutional, social and political factors which in many cases are the real causes of poverty and income inequality. The debate on the applicability of SAPs and the evidence of the impact of SAPs is reviewed in the case of developing countries. The level of poverty and income inequality in Fiji are discussed.

Women, occupation and health in rural Africa: Adaptation to a changing socioeconomic climate

Over the last ten to fifteen years socioeconomic conditions in sub‐Saharan Africa have declined. Economic crisis has resulted in the adoption of International Monetary Fund and World Bank sponsored economic structural adjustment policies by most African governments. These highly criticised policies have had limited economic success and are often blamed for stagnant and even deteriorating human development indicators and declining living standards. At the same time families and communities are coping with the increasing morbidity and mortality and social issues associated with HIV/AIDS. These changing socioeconomic conditions have particular implications for vulnerable groups, such as poor rural women and their families. Using empirical material collected by the author in Southern and Western Africa, the paper examines the triple workload borne by rural African women. Their roles as biological and social reproducers as well as economic providers are described and the links between these occupations and personal and family health are explored. The extra burden imposed by recent socioeconomic changes, in particular poverty and HIV/AIDS is examined. The desire and need for children is explained and the demands of poverty on rural women is explored. The evidence indicates that deteriorating socioeconomic conditions in sub‐Saharan families are adversely affecting the lives and health of rural African women and their families. Poverty and the shadow of HIV/AIDS have serious implications for rural African women, for whom access to labour and income is now critical to family well‐being and survival in many parts of rural Africa. The international community must recognise the changing and varied occupational roles that rural women now perform and should be prepared to respond to the needs and challenges that African women will face as the new millennium approaches.

Women, occupation and health in rural Africa: Adaptation to a changing socioeconomic climate

Over the last ten to fifteen years socioeconomic conditions in sub‐Saharan Africa have declined. Economic crisis has resulted in the adoption of International Monetary Fund and World Bank sponsored economic structural adjustment policies by most African governments. These highly criticised policies have had limited economic success and are often blamed for stagnant and even deteriorating human development indicators and declining living standards. At the same time families and communities are coping with the increasing morbidity and mortality and social issues associated with HIV/AIDS. These changing socioeconomic conditions have particular implications for vulnerable groups, such as poor rural women and their families. Using empirical material collected by the author in Southern and Western Africa, the paper examines the triple workload borne by rural African women. Their roles as biological and social reproducers as well as economic providers are described and the links between these occupations and personal and family health are explored. The extra burden imposed by recent socioeconomic changes, in particular poverty and HIV/AIDS is examined. The desire and need for children is explained and the demands of poverty on rural women is explored. The evidence indicates that deteriorating socioeconomic conditions in sub‐Saharan families are adversely affecting the lives and health of rural African women and their families. Poverty and the shadow of HIV/AIDS have serious implications for rural African women, for whom access to labour and income is now critical to family well‐being and survival in many parts of rural Africa. The international community must recognise the changing and varied occupational roles that rural women now perform and should be prepared to respond to the needs and challenges that African women will face as the new millennium approaches.