An Empirical Analysis of the Determinants of Food Imports in Congo
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Date
2010-04-03
Authors
Safoulanitou, Léonard Nkouka
Ndinga, Mathias Marie Adrien
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research consortium
Abstract
The aim of the study was to identify the factors that are likely to explain the evolution
of food imports in Congo. Several variables related to the Dutch disease, the necessity
to ensure food security following the crisis in the agricultural industry, armed confl icts,
re-export trade, and the tax and customs reform were tested using an econometric model.
The analysis showed that the exchange rate of the local currency, armed conflicts, reexport trade, income and the domestic production index all represent the main factors that
account for food imports in Congo in the short and/or long term. These results allowed
us to draw some economic policy implications.