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Telecommunications Services in Africa: The Impact of WTO Commitments and Unilateral Reform on Sector Performance and Economic Growth

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  • Djiofack-Zebaze, Calvin
  • Keck, Alexander

Abstract

Summary We examine the impact of telecommunications liberalization in Africa on sectoral performance and economic growth. Besides unilateral measures, we account for WTO commitments fostering the credibility of reforms. Regulatory quality plays a major role in bringing down prices and improving access to telecommunications services in Africa. Competition, notably in the mobile segment, also improves sector performance. Increasing access to mobile networks by 1% translates into a 0.5% increase in real GDP per capita. In Africa, multilateral commitments do not reflect recent reforms. However, globally, adherence to the GATS Reference Paper is associated with lower prices.

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  • Djiofack-Zebaze, Calvin & Keck, Alexander, 2009. "Telecommunications Services in Africa: The Impact of WTO Commitments and Unilateral Reform on Sector Performance and Economic Growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 919-940, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:37:y:2009:i:5:p:919-940
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    4. Symeou, Pavlos C. & Pollitt, Michael G., 2014. "Fixed voice telephony in economies of different sizes: When industry policy meets technological change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 273-286.
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    6. 'Ofa, Siope Vakataki, 2009. "The WTO's telecommunications commitments and the credibility of telecommunications regulatory reforms in small island developing states," MPRA Paper 66184, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Godfrey Madigu, 2014. "The influence of services on firm productivity in Sub-saharan Africa," NCID Working Papers 02/2014, Navarra Center for International Development, University of Navarra.
    8. Ben Dkhil, Inès, 2014. "Regulation and Investment in Telecom Network Infrastructure Facilities: The Recent Developments and Debates," MPRA Paper 72910, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Feb 2015.
    9. M. F. Mpwanya, 2022. "An Empirical Examination of the Overall Customer Satisfaction with the Service Delivery of Mobile Network Operators in South Africa," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 23(1), pages 20-36, February.
    10. Jahanbakht, Mohammad & Mostafa, Romel, 2020. "Coevolution of policy and strategy in the development of the mobile telecommunications industry in Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(4).
    11. Brandie L. MARTIN, 2012. "Hitting or Missing African UAS Objectives? An Evaluation of Universal Access and Service (UAS) Policy Guidelines for Developing Countries," Communications & Strategies, IDATE, Com&Strat dept., vol. 1(86), pages 121-141, 2nd quart.
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    13. Francesco Bogliacino & Giulio Perani & Mario Pianta & Stefano Supino, 2010. "Innovation and Development. The Evidence from Innovation Surveys," Working Papers of BETA 2010-13, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
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