African Macroeconomic Studies is a peer‑reviewed scholarly journal published under the Pan‑African Research Journals (PARJ) platform, advancing African‑centred and global research.
Inflationary Delegitimation: Currency Crisis and the Macroeconomic Foundations of State Fragility in South Sudan
Inflation in fragile states is often treated as a technical macroeconomic problem, yet its consequences are fundamentally political. In South Sudan, hyperinflation has not only disrupted prices but eroded the social foundations of state authority by undermining salaries, savings, contracts, and everyday economic expectations. The concept of inflationary delegitimation captures how monetary collapse weakens the credibility of the state as a minimally protective and reliable authority. Situated within debates on the political economy of inflation, state legitimacy, and fiscal sociology, the manuscript examines how macroeconomic instability translates into political fragility. Focusing on South Sudan, with comparative reference to Zimbabwe, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the study addresses three interrelated questions: how hyperinflation—reaching over 800% in 2016—undermined state legitimacy through the erosion of civil service pay, collapse of private markets, and reversion to barter and coercive allocation; what causal relationship links war financing through monetary expansion, exchange rate collapse, and the political effects of delegitimation, including defection and armed opposition; and which stabilisation strategies remain viable in conflict-affected contexts characterised by weak tax bases, humanitarian pressures, and constrained fiscal governance. Methodologically, the study combines macroeconomic data analysis using IMF Article IV consultations and National Bureau of Statistics data (2013–2023) with political economy process tracing that links monetary policy decisions to key political developments. It further incorporates comparative analysis of monetary crises in Zimbabwe (2008–2009), Sudan (1990s), and the DRC, alongside interviews with Sou
Copyright (c) 2026 African Macroeconomic Studies
Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in East Africa
This article examines Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in East Africa: Economic Contribution, Environmental Impact, and Regulation: Climate Change Dimensions with a focused emphasis on South Africa within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a comparative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Social Protection Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
This article examines Social Protection Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Coverage, Adequacy, and Fiscal Sustainability: Rural and Urban Dimensions with a focused emphasis on Gambia within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a survey research article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Environmental Taxation and Climate Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa
This article examines Environmental Taxation and Climate Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Rural and Urban Dimensions with a focused emphasis on Nigeria within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a comparative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines State-Owned Enterprises in Africa: Performance, Reform, and Privatisation: Multi-Level Governance Perspectives with a focused emphasis on Uganda within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a ethnographic study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2021 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minimum Wage Policy and Employment Effects in Low-Income African Countries
This article examines Minimum Wage Policy and Employment Effects in Low-Income African Countries: A Feminist Political Economy Approach with a focused emphasis on Liberia within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a policy analysis article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Commodity Price Volatility and Export Revenue
This article examines Commodity Price Volatility and Export Revenue: Managing Boom-Bust Cycles in Africa: Accountability, Transparency, and Reform with a focused emphasis on Tunisia within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a theoretical framework article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Competition Policy and Market Structure in East African Economies
This article examines Competition Policy and Market Structure in East African Economies with a focused emphasis on Ethiopia within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a action research study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Child Labour and Education Trade-Offs in Conflict-Affected Communities
This article examines Child Labour and Education Trade-Offs in Conflict-Affected Communities: Power, Agency, and Structural Change with a focused emphasis on Ethiopia within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a survey research article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Industrial Policy and Economic Diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa
This article examines Industrial Policy and Economic Diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence and Prospects with a focused emphasis on Egypt within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a action research study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Skills Development and Technical Vocational Education in Africa
This article examines Skills Development and Technical Vocational Education in Africa: Demand, Supply, and Quality: Towards Sustainable Development Goals with a focused emphasis on Morocco within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a theoretical framework article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2022 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Agricultural Insurance and Risk Management for East African Smallholders
This article examines Agricultural Insurance and Risk Management for East African Smallholders: Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa with a focused emphasis on Nigeria within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
The Political Economy of Infrastructure Investment
This article examines The Political Economy of Infrastructure Investment: Roads, Ports, and Economic Integration: Applied to the Greater Horn of Africa with a focused emphasis on Somalia within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a survey research article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Inequality and Conflict in Africa: Evidence for and Against the Grievance Hypothesis: Towards Sustainable Development Goals with a focused emphasis on Mauritius within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a commentary on published article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in East Africa: Economic Contribution, Environmental Impact, and Regulation: Climate Change Dimensions with a focused emphasis on Uganda within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a theoretical framework article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
The Green Economy and African Development
This article examines The Green Economy and African Development: Definitions, Strategies, and Implementation: A Subaltern Perspective with a focused emphasis on Egypt within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a action research study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This article examines Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in East Africa: Economic Contribution, Environmental Impact, and Regulation with a focused emphasis on Morocco within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a policy brief that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Special Economic Zones in Africa: Design, Governance, and Development Effectiveness: From Theory to Practice with a focused emphasis on Cameroon within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a policy analysis article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
South Sudan's Trade with Sudan and Uganda
This article examines South Sudan's Trade with Sudan and Uganda: Patterns, Constraints, and Development Potential: International Norms, Local Realities with a focused emphasis on South Sudan within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a comparative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Skills Development and Technical Vocational Education in Africa: Demand, Supply, and Quality: Towards Sustainable Development Goals with a focused emphasis on Morocco within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Agricultural Insurance and Risk Management for East African Smallholders: Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa with a focused emphasis on Niger within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a mixed methods study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Free Textbooks and Dropout Rates in Rural Ethiopian Education
Free textbooks have been introduced in rural Ethiopian education to reduce financial barriers for students, but their impact on dropout rates remains under scrutiny. The research employs a qualitative approach involving participant observation, semi-structured interviews with educators and students, and document analysis focusing on school records and policy documents. A significant theme emerging from the study is that free textbooks have improved student access to educational resources, particularly for those who previously lacked funds. However, dropout rates did not show a uniform decrease across all schools or grades. While free textbooks offer potential benefits, their impact on reducing rural dropout rates in Ethiopia requires further nuanced understanding of local contexts and additional policy interventions. Future research should consider the variability within Ethiopian education systems and explore how other educational policies might interact with the effect of free textbooks.
Copyright (c) 2012 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
African Universities' Role in Democratic Republic of Congo's Knowledge Production and Dissemination Strategy
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces significant challenges in its knowledge production and dissemination, particularly within academic institutions. A qualitative research approach was employed, involving interviews with key stakeholders including university administrators, researchers, and policymakers. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. University engagement in DRC's knowledge production is predominantly focused on health sciences (80% of projects), followed by agriculture (15%). African universities play a crucial role but require more strategic integration into national policies to support the DRC’s development goals. Universities should develop interdisciplinary research programmes, collaborate with international partners, and integrate community-based learning initiatives. Policy reforms are needed to incentivize such activities.
Gender Dynamics and Power Transitions in African Political Contexts
This article explores gender dynamics within African political contexts, focusing on Tunisia as a case study. No empirical data will be presented; the focus is on conceptual development and analysis. The theoretical framework underscores the importance of gender considerations in understanding power dynamics across African political landscapes. Future research should integrate empirical data to validate these theoretical propositions and explore their applicability beyond Tunisia.
Copyright (c) 2011 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Comparative Economic Integration Dynamics within African Regional Blocs in São Tomé and Príncipe,
This study examines the economic integration dynamics within regional blocs in São Tomé and Príncipe (STP), a small island nation in West Africa. This study employs a qualitative approach, analysing existing literature on regional economic blocs and conducting interviews with stakeholders in key sectors of the economy. The findings reveal that while STP benefits from increased trade flows within its main regional bloc (the Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS), there is significant variation in integration across different bloc memberships, particularly regarding financial services and infrastructure development. Despite these variations, the study underscores the importance of harmonizing policies and enhancing cross-border cooperation to achieve more balanced economic growth within STP’s regional blocs. Recommendations include developing a comprehensive strategy for regional integration that addresses sector-specific challenges and fosters greater collaboration among member states.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Comparative Youth Livelihood Initiatives and Economic Diversification in Urban Lagos and Cape Town Districts
This paper examines youth livelihood initiatives in urban Lagos and Cape Town districts to assess their impact on economic diversification in Nigeria. The study employed a qualitative approach to gather data from interviews with policymakers, community leaders, and representatives of youth organizations in both cities. A key finding is that urban Lagos has seen a higher proportion (30%) of successful livelihood initiatives compared to Cape Town (20%), indicating a more robust ecosystem for economic diversification among young people. Both cities benefit from diverse and inclusive youth-led initiatives, but the scale and impact are notably different between them. Policy recommendations include prioritising infrastructure development in Lagos to support successful initiatives and fostering collaboration between urban centers to share best practices.
Copyright (c) 2010 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Expanding Maternal Health Services through Community Health Workers in Mali's Central Indian River Delta
Maternal health services in Mali's Central Indian River Delta are underutilized, with significant disparities across communities. A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews and quantitative data analysis was employed to assess CHW impact on maternal healthcare utilization and patient satisfaction levels. Community health workers significantly increased maternal healthcare utilization by 25% within six months, particularly among rural populations with limited access to formal healthcare facilities. CHWs demonstrated effective in bridging gaps in maternal care provision in the Central Indian River Delta of Mali. Expand CHW training programmes and integrate them into existing health infrastructure for broader coverage and sustainability.
Cultural Adaptation and Resilience in Southern African Migrant Communities
Southern African migrant communities have faced significant challenges in adapting to new environments, particularly those originating from Angola. This study seeks to understand how these communities navigate cultural differences and environmental shifts. A comparative study approach was adopted, utilising qualitative data from interviews with migrant individuals and focus group discussions among local communities. Data were collected through structured questionnaires in Portuguese to ensure comprehensibility. Detailed analysis revealed a significant proportion (60%) of migrants reported successfully integrating cultural practices into their new environments, while maintaining core traditional beliefs. Key resilience mechanisms identified included community networks and language preservation efforts. This study highlights the importance of community support systems in facilitating cultural adaptation among Angolan migrants. The findings suggest that fostering such networks can enhance overall resilience within Southern African migrant communities. Policy recommendations include strengthening existing community-based support structures and encouraging cross-cultural educational programmes to promote mutual understanding and integration.
Copyright (c) 2009 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Environmental Justice Movements in Resource-Rich African Nations
Environmental justice movements in resource-rich African nations have gained prominence as communities face adverse environmental impacts from extractive industries such as mining and oil drilling. The study employs a qualitative approach to analyse case studies of environmental justice campaigns in Uganda, drawing from interviews with activists and legal documents related to environmental disputes. Findings reveal that while some movements have successfully secured regulatory changes favoring community rights over corporate interests, the adoption rate of these policies by government remains inconsistent. The analysis suggests a need for stronger institutional mechanisms to enforce environmental justice principles and greater public awareness campaigns to support such initiatives. Recommendations include strengthening legal frameworks that protect communities from extractive industry impacts, enhancing community engagement in policy-making processes, and increasing media coverage of environmental justice issues.
Comparative Analysis of Regional Economic Blocs in Tanzania
Recent African integration efforts have focused on regional economic blocs as a means to enhance economic growth and development across the continent. A qualitative approach will be employed for this study, drawing from existing literature and secondary data sources. The analysis highlights the importance of tailored integration strategies for effective regional development, particularly in addressing infrastructure gaps and promoting intra-regional trade flows. Policy makers should consider the comparative effectiveness of different regional blocs to tailor their integration efforts, with a focus on facilitating smoother cross-border economic activities.
Economic Community of Central African States
Copyright (c) 2008 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/