Title: The determinants of agricultural output and the role of food aid: the case of Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors: Priniti Panday

Addresses: Gabelli School of Business, Roger Williams University, Bristol, 02809 RI, USA

Abstract: This paper investigates factors that influence agricultural output in a group of Sub-Saharan African countries, with special emphasis on the role of food aid. A three-sector trade theoretic framework of an agrarian economy, comprising of exportables, importables and non-traded goods, serves as a basis for the study. This sectorial analysis allows us to analyse movement of resources and demand across sectors, resulting from changes in relative prices, due to food aid. The theoretical model provides various hypotheses that are tested empirically. Results indicate that food aid had a significant negative impact on all three categories of agricultural output. The effect of other variables on the output of the three sectors was also analysed. Factors of production along with a durable and stable regime generally impacted output positively. Drought and conflicts had a significant negative impact on importables and non-traded goods.

Keywords: food aid; exportables; importables; non-traded goods; relative prices; drought; conflict; governance; Sub-Saharan Africa.

DOI: 10.1504/AJESD.2017.089950

African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 2017 Vol.6 No.2/3, pp.154 - 170

Received: 27 Sep 2016
Accepted: 27 Feb 2017
Published online: 26 Feb 2018 *

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