November 21 — “Is There a Dutch Disease in Botswana?”
Botswana’s economy seems healthier than most in Africa, its politics more stable. Has it conquered its resource curse? How?
When: Friday, November 21, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Where: IUPUI
Presented by the 2008-2009 Sabbatical Speaker Series and Scott Pegg, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the International Studies Program.
The Dutch disease is regularly evoked in the resource course literature and remains the leading causal explanation for the poor economic performance found in many resource-rich countries. Given Botswana’s high rate of per capita GDP growth, it might seem superfluous at first glance to ask whether or not there is a Dutch disease in Botswana. Yet, Botswana merits study here both as a significant potential exception to any posited inevitability of the Dutch disease and also because the debate on whether or not Botswana has avoided the Dutch disease is far less settled than is indicated by its per capita GDP growth record. Botswana currently suffers from many of the symptoms of the Dutch disease but not for the causal reasons posited in the Dutch disease model. Indeed, many of the explanations for the lack of diversification found in Botswana’s mineral-dependent economy have nothing to do with either diamond revenues or the Dutch disease. Botswana has done about as well managing its resource wealth as could realistically be expected but is unlikely to succeed in diversifying its economy away from diamonds anytime soon.
Why does Provocate think you should attend this event?
We don’t hear much about it because it doesn’t have the crises of other African countries … which is why Botswana deserves attention as one of Africa’s glittering success stories. It will be interesting if Prof. Pegg can explain how this has happened.
If you think this sounds interesting, be sure to check out …
Hear Prof. Pegg at greater length about the “resource curse” that Botswana may or may not be dodging September 18.
Know before you go:
Read some current news articles about Botswana.
For more information …
Read the Provocate “For More Information about …” the resource curse page.
And for your listening pleasure …
