Interest groups, economic policy and growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper explores the current state of knowledge about the role of business interest groups (chambers of commerce, manufacturers associations, farmers associations, etc) in economic policy reform in Africa. It argues that business interests are more likely to play a positive role in pushing for, and sustaining, growth-oriented reform when the business class has matured in number and experience and broadened to the point where it represents a sizeable portion of the productive economy;when exporting interests make up a substantial sector of the business class;when its associations are broadly representative of the range of business interests in the country, and have technical capacity and credibility;and when government and business associations have institutionalized regular consultation.