Applying John R. Commons institutional economic framework, this paper analyzes the evolution of the key institutions in the Malian cotton sector starting with the CFDT contract following the country‘s Independence in 1960; the nationalization of the cotton gin company, CMDT, in 1974; the completion of...

Globalization and the changing structure of agri-food procurement channels have forced governments and international development community to shift their efforts towards linking farmers to markets through high value added contractual marketing relationships. A critical pre-condition for...

This paper briefly examines how social capital affects overall economic growth processes and individual firm development, both positively and negatively, in low- and middle-income countries. The paper discusses how the concept of social capital is related to simple economic growth models and to...

This study aimed to investigate the strategic assumptions and practices in World Bank project appraisal programs. Semistructured interviews of senior World Bank field officers in Addis Ababa and Nirobi and extensive review of World Bank appraisal directives and related documents provided the...

Economic planning is undertaken in the belief that development can be brought about or accelerated by government intervention. Referring to the countries of South Asia, Myrdal points out that these countries have long remained in a state of relative stagnation, and that "a strong impetus is...

Generally, economists have analyzed development planning in developing countries (LDC's) under the following aspects. First, attention is focused on the plan strategies, policies and targets. Special emphasis is often devoted to whether the targets have been or could be achieved over the...

The collection, primary processing, and subsequent sale of shea-based products make an important contribution to rural women’s cash income in many of Mali’s shea producing areas. Internationally, shea has recently become popular in high-valued cosmetics thanks to its therapeutic...