Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective

Events in Zimbabwe during seven years from the start of economic reforms in 1991 have highlighted the contradictions in the ideologies underlying economic development and institutional reform in the country. They have also highlighted the futility of undertaking partial reforms. Zimbabwe embarked on...

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Autor principal: Muir-Leresche, Kay
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 1998
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161209
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author Muir-Leresche, Kay
author_browse Muir-Leresche, Kay
author_facet Muir-Leresche, Kay
author_sort Muir-Leresche, Kay
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Events in Zimbabwe during seven years from the start of economic reforms in 1991 have highlighted the contradictions in the ideologies underlying economic development and institutional reform in the country. They have also highlighted the futility of undertaking partial reforms. Zimbabwe embarked on liberalization of its foreign exchange, banking, marketing and pricing policies in the early 1990s. However, the fiscal deficits continued to increase, and key resource allocation systems remained centrally controlled. The gains from liberalization have been disappointing. The benefits were undermined by high inflation and interest rates caused by excessive government borrowing. High interest rates, together with the rigidities that prevent resources from moving efficiently, make investor response to the liberalized markets very difficult and haphazard. The uncertainty created by conflicting messages portrayed in the rhetoric and actions of the government further reduce investor confidence. This paper traces some of the emerging political and institutional forces that have influenced economic policy and considers the success, constraints and potential for agriculture in Zimbabwe.
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spelling CGSpace1612092025-11-06T06:25:47Z Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective Muir-Leresche, Kay agriculture economic aspects macroeconomics economic policies Events in Zimbabwe during seven years from the start of economic reforms in 1991 have highlighted the contradictions in the ideologies underlying economic development and institutional reform in the country. They have also highlighted the futility of undertaking partial reforms. Zimbabwe embarked on liberalization of its foreign exchange, banking, marketing and pricing policies in the early 1990s. However, the fiscal deficits continued to increase, and key resource allocation systems remained centrally controlled. The gains from liberalization have been disappointing. The benefits were undermined by high inflation and interest rates caused by excessive government borrowing. High interest rates, together with the rigidities that prevent resources from moving efficiently, make investor response to the liberalized markets very difficult and haphazard. The uncertainty created by conflicting messages portrayed in the rhetoric and actions of the government further reduce investor confidence. This paper traces some of the emerging political and institutional forces that have influenced economic policy and considers the success, constraints and potential for agriculture in Zimbabwe. 1998 2024-11-21T09:54:10Z 2024-11-21T09:54:10Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161209 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Muir-Leresche, Kay. 1998. Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe;a political-economy perspective. TMD Discussion Paper 29. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161209
spellingShingle agriculture
economic aspects
macroeconomics
economic policies
Muir-Leresche, Kay
Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective
title Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective
title_full Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective
title_fullStr Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective
title_full_unstemmed Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective
title_short Agriculture and macro-economic reforms in Zimbabwe: a political-economy perspective
title_sort agriculture and macro economic reforms in zimbabwe a political economy perspective
topic agriculture
economic aspects
macroeconomics
economic policies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161209
work_keys_str_mv AT muirlereschekay agricultureandmacroeconomicreformsinzimbabweapoliticaleconomyperspective