Are African Current Account Deficits Different? Stylized Facts, Transitory Shocks, and Decomposition Analysis
40 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2006
Date Written: January 2001
Abstract
This paper analyzes the behavior of current account deficits in Africa and estimates whether the deficits are excessive with respect to fundamentals. The findings are that deficits are (i) not very persistent; (ii) positively linked with domestic growth; (iii) strongly linked with public (and private) savings, suggesting that fiscal consolidation in IMF-supported programs may be relatively effective; (iv) linked with aid flows, so as to close the external gap, and (v) linked with currency depreciation and the terms of trade. The deficit is excessive, as it is almost 3 percent of the gross national disposable income above the equilibrium level.
Keywords: Current Account, Dynamic Panel Data Models, Decomposition Analysis
JEL Classification: F30, F32, F40
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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