From Bad Policy to Chaos in Somalia: How an Economy Fell Apart

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

This examination of the economic policies of Somalia since 1970 is empirical in nature, employing political and economic analysis, economic theory, and econometric techniques, and argues that the governmental economic policy, policy responses to crises, and exogenous shocks have been bad for the long-term economic growth of the country. Despite significant foreign financed public investment, economic growth has been weak and real per capita income has declined. The intensifying economic crises contributed to the rapid deterioration of the political situation that led to the collapse of the Somali state in 1991. Since 1991, chaos and more destruction has followed as warlords scrambled for power, resulting in the resource base of the economy being eroded further and the country being reduced to warring clans.

Reviews

"This book is far more comprehensive than the few other published works on Somalia's economy....[T]he author makes excellent use of extremely skimpy statistical data. He also draws many important lessons from the experience of two and a half decades of grossly mismanaged economic development. Jamil Abdalla Mubarak's book is an important contribution to Somalia's recent economic literature and it also provides some guidelines for future governments to help them to avoid the past errors of policy and avert disastrous crises."-The International Journal of African Historical Studies
Few books are in print (in the US) about the Somalia economy. Thus, Mubarak's work will help fill the void.... The author uses both political economy and economic analysis to explain the Somalian experience, placing the blame for the poor performance of the Somalian economy on the policies followed by the government.-Choice
This book is far more comprehensive than the few other published works on Somalia's economy....[T]he author makes excellent use of extremely skimpy statistical data. He also draws many important lessons from the experience of two and a half decades of grossly mismanaged economic development. Jamil Abdalla Mubarak's book is an important contribution to Somalia's recent economic literature and it also provides some guidelines for future governments to help them to avoid the past errors of policy and avert disastrous crises.-The International Journal of African Historical Studies
"Few books are in print (in the US) about the Somalia economy. Thus, Mubarak's work will help fill the void.... The author uses both political economy and economic analysis to explain the Somalian experience, placing the blame for the poor performance of the Somalian economy on the policies followed by the government."-Choice

Author Bio

JAMIL ABDALLA MUBARAK is a citizen of Somalia who holds an advanced degree from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Mubarak has lectured at the Somali National University and has served as a consultant to the World Bank.