Degree Name
Master of Science
Graduate Program
Agribusiness Economics
Advisor
Moon, Wanki
Abstract
This thesis examines the key determinants of agricultural productivity in West Africa, emphasizing both external and internal influences. It seeks to understand why agriculture—a sector vital to economic growth and societal welfare—continues to underperform in West Africa relative to other developing regions in an increasingly interconnected world. The study critically evaluates the impact of structural adjustment programs on agricultural development. It also explores the legacy of import substitution industrialization policies adopted in the post-independence era alongside the foundational structures that shaped Africa’s developmental trajectory.
Qualitative findings reveal that internal factors have contributed significantly to advancing the agricultural sector, while external factors have a negative contribution to West Africa's agricultural development. Qualitative analyses indicate that external factors, represented by openness, have negative effects on agricultural outcomes, whereas internal factors such as government size, public expenditure, subsidies, and legal and property rights have played a more significant role in influencing agricultural outcomes. However, quantitative analysis using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Pooled Models paints a nuanced picture of internal factors exhibiting mixed results, with variables such as fertilizer consumption and subsidies showing a weaker correlation with agricultural performance. The two results, OLS and pooled, suggest that external factors emerge as the primary contributors to agricultural underdevelopment in West Africa.