Growth in High-Value Export Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa and Its Development Implications

LICOS Discussion Paper No. 245/2009

31 Pages Posted: 25 Nov 2009

See all articles by Miet Maertens

Miet Maertens

KU Leuven - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance (LICOS)

Bart Minten

Cornell University - Food and Nutrition Policy Program; Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) - Department of Agro-Engineering and Economics

Johan F. M. Swinnen

KU Leuven - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance (LICOS); European Commission, DG II

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Date Written: 2009

Abstract

During the past decades the global food system changed dramatically with increased trade in high-value food products, increased exports from developing countries, increased consolidation and dominance of large multinational food companies, and increased proliferation of public and private food standards. As a consequence, global food trade is increasingly organised around vertically coordinated supply chains rather than around spot market transactions. While there is consensus that these structural changes are profoundly changing the way food is produced and traded, there is no consensus on the overall welfare implications of increased high-value food exports and supply chain restructuring in poor countries. In this paper we discuss the income and poverty implications of expanded horticulture exports and changing supply chain structures for rural households in Sub-Saharan African exporting countries. We put together the economic arguments; distinguish different channels through which rural households are affected; provide evidence from three comparative case-studies on high-value horticulture exports; and derive implications for policy makers, private investors, and the development aid community.

Keywords: trade, poverty, modern supply chains, Africa

JEL Classification: F2, J43, O12, Q12, Q17

Suggested Citation

Maertens, Miet and Minten, Bart and Swinnen, Johan F.M., Growth in High-Value Export Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa and Its Development Implications (2009). LICOS Discussion Paper No. 245/2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1511702 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1511702

Miet Maertens (Contact Author)

KU Leuven - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance (LICOS) ( email )

Waaistraat 6 - box 3511
Leuven, 3000
Belgium

Bart Minten

Cornell University - Food and Nutrition Policy Program ( email )

BP 6313
Antananarivo 101
Madagascar
033 11 38520 (Phone)
261 20 2222198 (Fax)

Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) - Department of Agro-Engineering and Economics ( email )

Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92
Heverlee, B-3001
Belgium

Johan F.M. Swinnen

KU Leuven - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance (LICOS) ( email )

Waaistraat 6
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

European Commission, DG II ( email )

Wetstrath 200
Office 15172
1049 Brussels
Belgium
+32-2-2960442 (Phone)
Not available (Fax)

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