Private business activity, by creating and using “ideas”, drives economic growth in both rich and poor countries. Creating an enabling business environment is necessary but not sufficient for fostering the private sector in poor countries. Open dialogue, transparency, accountability and...

Technological change and organisational advancements have made possible the greater participation of developing country producers in international trade, in a wide range of goods and services. However, firms based in industrial countries often determine the scope for insertion and upgrading of...

Strong commodity prices are driving Africa’s growth, which should be about 6 % in 2007 and 2008. External vulnerability is a function of its limited integration into international trade and investment flows. Africa should mobilise external sources more strategically. In this respect, aid for...

This paper discusses major policy issues related to commodity dependence and export diversification in low-income countries. Contrary to some widely-held view, it argues that natural resources are not necessarily a “curse” — that they do not condemn low-income countries to underdevelopment...

The emergence of a “second wave” of developing-country multinational enterprises (MNEs) in a variety of industries is one of the characterizing features of globalisation. These new MNEs did not delay their internationalisation until they were large, as did most of their predecessors, and...

Globalisation, governance and economic performance affect each other in very complex mutual relationships. In this paper, we establish a clear and well-circumscribed hypothesis: “is there an effect of globalisation <I>on</I> governance?” To test this hypothesis or, even more specifically, to test...</i>

The experience of the five examined industries (agro-food in Chile, cut flowers in Kenya, garment in Lesotho and in Mauritius and seafood in Thailand) demonstrates that non-traditional industries can emerge and achieved strong growth rates in very diverse settings in terms of geography and...

Grâce au progrès technologique et aux nouvelles pratiques d’organisation, les producteurs des pays en développement participent de plus en plus aux échanges internationaux d’une large gamme de biens et de services. Pourtant, les entreprises des pays industriels décident souvent de...

La bonne tenue des cours des matières premières tire la croissance africaine, qui devrait avoisiner les 6 pour cent en 2007 et 2008. Une insuffisante intégration du continent dans le commerce international et les flux mondiaux d’investissement est source de vulnérabilité extérieure....

<ul> <li>En créant et en exploitant des « idées », l’activité des entreprises privées tire la croissance, dans les pays riches comme dans les pays pauvres. </li> <li>La mise en place d’un environnement propice aux affaires est une condition nécessaire mais non suffisante pour promouvoir le secteur...</li></ul>