Transcript Note of Ethiopia - Introduction to Economic Development

Ethiopia
ECON 3510 Fall, 2015
Main Ethnic
Groups
Some History
“Lucy”
• Discovered in 1972
• Estimated era: between 3.22
and 3.18 million years
Some History
• The earliest evidence: around 1000BC
when the Queen of Sheba visited King
Solomon.
– The imperial family of Ethiopia claims its
origin directly from the offspring of the
Queen of Sheba by King Solomon.
• First recorded kingdom in Ethiopia grew
around Axum during the 3rd century BC.
• Christianity adopted when the king was
converted around 330 AD; an ancient and
unique form of Christianity
• Continuous conflict with the expanding
Islamic movement, ultimately with the
Ottoman Empire
Unsuccessful Italian Conquest,
Defeat by the Ethiopians at the Battle of Adowa, 1896
In 1916, Haile Selassie, born Prince Ras Tafari
Makonnen, was proclaimed Emperor in 1930
•Italians under Mussolini invade
again, 1936,
(the League of Nations did
nothing)
Expelled by Ethiopians and British
in 1941
•Eritrian situation:
•Under UK control;
•Joined with Ethiopia in a
Federation in 1952
•Annexed outright in 1962
•Guerrilla war breaks out
•Independence in 1991;
•Warfare with Ethiopia on and off
ever since
Highly inequitable pattern of development for
many years; Feudal system;
1974: a social revolution and a group of junior army
officers led by Mengistu Haile Miriam imposed a
military Marxist dictatorship.
Expelled Americans
Some radical reforms
Somalis invade to reclaim Ogaden
USSR & Cuba back Ethiopia !
U.S. backs Somalia !
Radicalization under Mengistu:
‘People's committees‘ tried to control the
everyday people’s lives
Many people were forcibly moved in an attempt
to counter famine.
Conscription into the army called on ever man
from 18 to 70 years old.
Mengistu left in 1991
Reasonable internal stability since 1991
Development record: weak, 1970-1990;
Accelerated growth, 2000-2014
Basic Information on Ethiopia
Demographic:
Population:
Population Growth Rate:
but diminishing
Fertility Rate:
Life Expectancy:
90. million (2011)
2.5% per annum
(Doubling every 30 years)
4.8 children per woman
but falling
2000: 43.9 years
2012: 59.7
Human Development Index:
2000: .270
Rank in World:
2013: .435
# 173 (of 186)
Economic Indicators:
GDP per capita (PPP) in 2013:
GDP per capita (PPP) Africa:
$ 1,305
$ 3,152
GDP Growth rate, per capita,
2000-2007: 1.5 % p.a.
2007-2013: +/- 6 % pre year (my estimate)
Arable land per person: 1.7 hectares
Arable land as %of total: 13%
Gini Coefficient:
.30
(among the most equal in the world)
Exports: $ 1.28 billion; or about $16.20 per
inhabitant
Manufactured Exports as % of Total: 13%
for Africa:
34%