Cattle, Diamonds and Institutions: Main Drivers of Botswana's Economic Development, 1850 to Present

Abstract

This study investigates the role of political as well as economic institutions, factor endowments and geography as main drivers of change in Botswana's long-term economic development, from 1850 to the present. The claim that we need to embrace multi-causal explanations giving equal explanatory value to all mentioned potential drivers is made. Further, in order not to compress history, we should give equal attention to the pre-colonial, colonial and postindependence eras. The study leads by example and provides a thorough analysis that enriches our understanding of the country's past and present.

Regional trade institutions in West Africa: Historical reflections

“…Their research highlights that colonies where Europeans settled tend to have better institutions. Such claims are supported by Hillbom (2014), who noted that British colonies in the southern part of Africa received grants under the Colonial Development Fund in order to stimulate investment and institutional development.…”

“…However, most of the research about regional trade institutions and harmonisation in West Africa is skewed towards two areas. The first focuses on how the trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonial era trade favoured external relations, which implies that less emphasis was put on developing infrastructure and institutions that promoted regional trade (Rodney, 1981;Davidson, 1985;Acemoglu et al, 2001;Aryeetey, 2001;Nunn, 2007;Nunn, 2008;Richards & Nwanna, 2010;Frankema & Waijenburg, 2012;Keyser, 2012;Sousa & Lochard, 2012;Hillbom, 2014). Related studies also looked at commodity trading in the trans-Saharan trade during the Empires of the Western Sudan (Barry, 1998;Thornton, 1998;Lydon, 2009 andConrad, 2010).…”

Natural Resources Curse in the long run? Bolivia, Chile and Peru in the Nordic countries’ mirror

“…[29] In the case of less developed economies, Hillbom stresses the critical role played by good institutions in the positive impact that mining had on Botswana. [30,31] In this article, we compare Andean and Nordic countries from the mid 19th century onwards. The starting point of this comparison is based on the fact that the extreme differences existing today between both groups of countries were much lower in the mid-19th century.…”

Television in Botswana: Development and Policy Perspectives

“…functioning institutions (Acemoglu et al, 2003;Harvey & Lewis, 1990;Hillbom, 2014;Robinson & Acemoglu, 2012); appropriate policies that have emphasized prudent economic management (Harvey & Lewis, 1990); good governance, effective leadership, peace and democratic stability (Maipose, 2003;Sebudubudu & Botlhomilwe, 2012).…”

“…The current broadcasting policy environment (2012)(2013)(2014) (Hillbom, 2014;Leftwich, 1995). The other peripheral reason for re-focusing government media into a government information tool can be explained contextually by the relationship between the state and commercial media.…”