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Position: 
Professor
Email: 
afosu@ug.edu.gh / afosu@isser.edu.gh
Office : 
ISSER East Wing
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Augustin FOSU is Professor, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana. He is also holds a number of (honorary) appointments, including: Extraordinary Professor, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; BWPI Research Associate, University of Manchester, UK; and CSAE Research Associate, University of Oxford, UK. His previous positions include: Deputy Director, UN University-WIDER, Finland (2006-2013); Senior Policy Advisor/Chief Economist, UN Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia (2004-2006); and Director of Research, African Economic Research Consortium, Kenya (1998-2004). He holds a PhD in economics from Northwestern University, USA.  He has published widely, with certain rankings listing him among ‘top economists/authors’ in Africa and globally:  http://ideas.repec.org/top/top.africa.html#authors; http://ideas.repec.org/coupe.html

Prof. Fosu is editor-in-chief, Journal of African Trade (Elsevier); co-managing editor, Journal of African Economies (Oxford); and is a (current or recent) member of the editorial boards of many other journals, including: Journal of Development Studies, Oxford Development Studies, World Bank Economic Review, and World Development. He has served in numerous advisory and consulting capacities for international organizations,  and on the President of Ghana’s Economic Advisory Council (2012).

Economic Development (e.g., institutions, growth, and human development; debt, growth, and optimal public sector allocation; trade, growth and development; and growth, inequality and poverty)

Publications (selected)

Books/Volumes/Journal Supplements (Edited)

Books/Volumes:

Achieving Development Success: Strategies and Lessons from the Developing World, ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. i-526.

 

Development Success: Historical Accounts from More Advanced Countries, ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. i-368.

 

Poverty in Africa: Analytical and Policy Perspectives(withG. Mwabu and E. Thorbecke), ed., Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 2009, pp i-518.

 

The Political Economy of Economic Growth in Africa, 1960-2000: Country Case Studies(withB. Ndulu, S. O’Connell, J-P Azam, R. Bates, J. Gunning, and D. Njinkeu), ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. i-719.

 

Malaria and Poverty in Africa(withG. Mwabu), ed., Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 2007, pp. i-199.

 

Post-conflict Economies in Africa(withP. Collier), ed., International Economic Association Conference Volume No. 140, New York: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2005, pp. i-272.

 

Policies to Promote Competitiveness in Manufacturing in Sub-Saharan Africa(withS. Nsouli and A. Varoudakis), ed., Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2001, pp. 1-142.

 

Journal Supplements: 

 

Institutions, Governance and Economic Development in Africa,Journal of African Economies, supplement(withR. BatesandA. Hoeffler), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.

 

Growth and Poverty in Africa, and Public Sector Delivery,Journal of African Economies, Vol. 13 supplement 1(withA. Bigsten and T. Ryan), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2004.

 

Economic Reforms and Restructuring in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Financial Sector and Regulation/Deregulation of Infrastructure,Journal of African Economies, Vol. 12, Supplement 2(withM. Kimenyi and N. Ndung’u), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2003.

 

Globalization,Journal of African Economies, Vol. 11, Supplement 2(withD. Bevan), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, February 2003.

 

Privatization and Corporate Governance,Journal of African Economies, Vol. 11, Supplement 1(withM. Ayogu), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, February 2002.

 

Business Environment and Investment in Africa,Journal of African Economies, Vol. 10, Supplement 2(withK. Mlambo and T. W. Oshikoya), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2001.

 

Financial and Currency Crises,Journal of African Economies, Vol. 10, Supplement 1(withL. Senbet), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, February 2001.

 

Poverty, Inequality and Intrahousehold Allocation Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa,Journal of African Economies, Vol. 9, Supplement 1(withG. Mwabu), ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2000.

 

Journal Articles

 

Journal Articles:Economic Development/Open Economies

 

“Institutions and African Economies: An Overview,”Journal of African Economies, 2013, 22(4), 22(4): 491-498.

 

“African Economic Growth: Productivity, Policy Syndromes and the Importance of Institutions,”Journal of African Economies, 2013, 22(4): 523-551.

 

“Does Inequality Constrain Poverty Programs? Evidence from Africa,”Journal of Policy Modeling, 32(6), 2010, 818-827.

 

“Inequality, Income and Poverty: Comparative Global Evidence,”Social Science Quarterly, 91(5), December 2010, 1432-1446.  

 

“The External Debt-Servicing Constraint and Public-Expenditure Composition in Sub-Saharan Africa,”African Development Review, 22(3), 2010, 378-393.

 

“The Effect of Income Distribution on the Ability of Growth to Reduce Poverty:  Evidence from Rural and Urban African Economies,”American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 69(3), July 2010, 1034-1053.

 

“Inequality and the Impact of Growth on Poverty: Comparative Evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa,”Journal of Development Studies, 45(5), May 2009, 726-745.

 

“Implications of External Debt-Servicing Constraint for Public Health Expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa,”Oxford Development Studies, 36(4), December 2008, 363-377.

 

“Democracy and Growth in Africa: Implications of Increasing Electoral Competitiveness,”Economics Letters, 100, September 2008, 442-444.

 

“Inequality and the Growth-Poverty Nexus: Specification Empirics Using African Data,”Applied Economics Letters, 15(7-9), June-July 2008, 563-566.

 

“Gains from Trade: Implications for Labor Market Adjustment and Poverty Reduction in Africa,” (withA. Mold),African Development Review, 20(1), April 2008, pp. 20-48.

 

“Fiscal Allocation for Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications of the External Debt Service Constraint,”World Development, 35(4), April 2007, pp. 702-713.

 

"Mapping Growth into Economic Development: Has Elite Political Instability Mattered in Sub-Saharan Africa?"American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 63(5), November 2004, pp. 137-156.

 

“Political Instability and Export Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa,”Journal of Development Studies,Vol. 39, No. 4 (April 2003), pp. 67-83.

 

“Explaining Slow Growth in Africa,” (withJ-P Azam and N Ndung’u),African Development Review, Vol. 14, No. 2 (December 2002), pp. 177-220.

 

"Economic Volatilities and Growth in Latin America: Comparative Evidence with Sub-Saharan Africa on Export vs. Capital Instability,"Economia Internazionale/International Economics, Vol. 55, No. 1 (February 2002), pp. 1-16.

 

"Transforming Growth to Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Elite Political Instability,"Oxford Development Studies,Vol. 30, No. 1 (February 2002), pp.9-19.

 

"Political Instability and Economic Growth: Implications of Coup Events in Sub-Saharan Africa,"American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Vol. 61, No. 1 (January 2002), pp. 329-348. (Reprinted in Laurence S. Moss, ed.,The New Political Economies, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2002.)

 

"The Global Setting and African Economic Growth,"Journal of African Economies, Vol. 10, No. 3 (October 2001), pp. 282-310.

 

"Political Instability and Economic Growth in Developing Economies: Some Specification Empirics,"Economics Letters, Vol. 70, No. 2 (2001), pp. 289-294.

 

"Economic Fluctuations and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Importance of Import Instability,"Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 37, No. 3 (February 2001), pp. 71-84.

               

“The External Debt Burden and Economic Growth in the 1980s: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa,”Canadian Journal of Development Studies, Volume 20, No. 2 (1999), pp. 307-318.

 

"The Impact of External Debt on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa,"Journal of Economic Development, Vol. 21, No. 1 (1996), pp. 93-118.

 

"Primary Exports and Economic Growth in Developing Countries,"World Economy, Vol. 19, No. 4 (July 1996), pp. 465-475.

 

"Development Level, Trade and Economic Growth: Comparative Evidence from the More Developed Countries,"Economia Internazionale, Vol. 49, No. 2 (1996), pp. 221-234.

 

"Kuznets's Inverted-U Hypothesis:  Comment,"Southern Economic Journal, Vol. 59, No. 3 (January, 1993), pp. 523-527.

 

"Political Instability and Economic Growth: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa,"Economic Development and Cultural Change, Vol. 40, No. 4 (July, 1992), pp. 829-841.

 

"Effect of Export Instability on Economic Growth in Africa,"Journal of Developing Areas, Vol. 26, No. 3 (April 1992), pp. 323-332.

 

"Capital Instability and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa,"Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 28, No. 1 (October 1991), pp. 74-85.

 

"Influences of International Factors on U.S. Prices:  A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis,"Applied Economics, Vol. 23, No. 3 (March 1991), pp. 517-524.

 

"Export Composition and the Impact of Exports on Economic Growth of Developing Economies,"Economics Letters, Vol. 34, No. 1 (September 1990), pp. 67-71.

 

"Exports and Economic Growth:  The African Case,"World Development, Vol. 18, No. 6 (June 1990), pp. 831-835.

 

"International Impacts on U.S. Inflation in the 1970s" (withF.R. Strobel),Eastern Economic Journal, Vol. IX, No. 4 (October-December 1983), pp. 323-331. 

 

Journal Articles (continued):Labor Economics

 

“Labor Force Participation of Married Women: Do Regions Matter?American Economist, Vol. 44, No. 1, (Spring 2000), pp. 70-80.

 

"Anti-discrimination Measures of the 1960s and Occupational Mobility: Evidence for Black American Men,"Journal of Labor Research, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Winter 2000), pp. 169-180.

 

"Racial and Gender Differences in Unemployment in an Urban Labor Market: The Case of Detroit,"Review of Black Political Economy, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Winter 2000), pp. 35-47.

 

“Cost of Living and Labor Force Participation: Married Women in Urban Labor Markets,”Journal of Labor Research, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Spring 1999), pp. 219-232.

 

"Occupational Gains of Black Women since the 1964 Civil Rights Act: Longterm or Episodic?"American Economic Review, Vol. 86, No. 2 (May 1997), pp. 311-314.

 

"Labor Force Participation of Black and White Married Women: Evidence from Urban Labor Markets,"Review of Black Political Economy(Summer 1995), 24 (1), pp. 45-64.

 

"Occupational Mobility and Post-1964 Earnings Gains by Black Women,"American Economic Review, Vol. 85, No. 2 (May 1995), pp. 143-147.  

 

"Do Black and White Women Hold Different Jobs in the Same Occupation?  A Critical Analysis of the Clerical and Service Sectors,"Review of Black Political Economy, Vol. 21, No. 4 (Spring 1993), pp. 68-82.

 

"Nonwage Benefits as a Limited-Dependent Variable: Implications for the Impact of Unions,"Journal of Labor Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Winter 1993), pp. 29-43.

 

"Occupational Mobility of Black Women, 1958-1981: The Impact of Post-1964 Antidiscrimination Measures,"Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Vol. 45, No. 2 (January, 1992), pp. 281-294. 

 

"Labor Force Participation by Married Women: Recent Intercity Evidence,"Eastern Economic Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3 (July - Sept., 1990), pp. 229-238.

 

"Trends in Relative Earnings Gains by Black Women:  Implications for the Future,"Review of Black Political Economy, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Summer 1988), pp. 31-45.

 

"Price Inflation and Wage Inflation:  A Cause-Effect Relationship?" (withMd. Shamsul Huq),Economics Letters, Vol. 27, No. 1 (1988), pp. 35-40.

 

"Explaining Post-1964 Earnings Gains by Black Women: Race or Sex?"Review of Black Political Economy, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Winter 1987), pp. 41-55.

 

"Unions and Fringe Benefits:  Additional Evidence,"Journal of Labor Research, Vol. V, No. 3 (Summer 1984), pp. 247-254.

 

"Impact of Unionism on Pension Fringes,"Industrial Relations, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Fall 1983), pp. 419-425.

 

Journal Articles (continued):Other subjects

 

“The Research Productivity of Black Economists: Ranking by Individuals and Doctoral Alma Mater – Comment,”Review of Black Political Economy, 33(3) (Winter 2006), pp. 45-49.

               

"NEA Presidential Address: An Economic Theory of Pan-Africanism,"Review of Black Political Economy, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Fall 1999), pp.7-12.

 

"An Evaluation of Agency Theory Influence in Pension Accounting," (withG. Lander and A. Reinstein),Journal of Applied Business Research, Vol. 8, No.1 (Winter 1992), pp.13-16.

 

"Preferred Speed, Actual Speed, and Marginal Benefit of Transportation Resources," (withO. Izraeli),Logistics and Transportation Review, Vol. 26, No.1 (March 1990), pp. 77-92.

 

 

Chapters in Books/Volumes/Journal Supplements

Chapters in Books/Volumes:

 

“Achieving Development Success: Synthesis of Strategies and Lessons from the Developing World,” in A. K. Fosu (ed.),Achieving Development Success: Strategies and Lessons from the Developing World, Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2013, chapter 1, pp. 1-22,

 

“Country Role Models for Development Success: The Ghana Case,” in A. K. Fosu (ed.),Achieving Development Success: Strategies and Lessons from the Developing World, Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2013, pp. 265-283.

 

“Development Success: Historical Accounts from the More Advanced Countries,’ in A. K. Fosu (ed.),Development Success: Historical Accounts from More Advanced Countries, Oxford: Oxford University Press, November 2012, chapter 1, pp. 1-19.

 

“Ghana: The Development Record and the Washington Consensus,” in Aryeetey, E., S. Devarajan, R. Kanbur, and L. Kasekende, eds.,Oxford Companion to the Economics of Africa, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.

 

“The African Economic Growth Record, and the Roles of Policy Syndromes and Governance,” in Noman, A., K. Botchwey, H. Stein, and J. Stiglitz, eds.,Good Growth and Governance in Africa: Rethinking Development Strategies, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012, chapter 7, pp. 175-218.

 

“Terms of Trade and Growth of Resource Economies: Contrasting Evidence from Two African Economies,” (withA. O. Gyapong) in Arezki, R., T. Gylfason and A. Sy, eds.,Beyond the Curse: Policies to Harness the Power of Natural Resources, Washington, DC: IMF, 2011, chapter 14.

 

“Explaining Four Decades of Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa,” (withE. Aryeetey) in McMahon, H. S. Esfahani and L. Squire, eds.,Diversity in Economic Growth: Global Insights and Explanations, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2009, chapter 6, pp. 211-254.

 

 “Poverty in Africa: An Overview,” (withG. Mwabu and E. Thorbecke), in A. Fosu, G. Mwabu and E. Thorbecke, eds.,Poverty in Africa: Analytical and Policy Perspectives,Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 2009, pp. 1-15.

 

“Ghana’s Post-independence Economic Growth, 1960-2000” (withE. Aryeetey), in E. Aryeetey and R. Kanbur, editors,The Economy of Ghana: Analytical Perspectives on Stability, Growth and Poverty, Woodbridge, U.K.: James Currey, 2008, pp.  36-77.

 

“Anti-Growth Syndromes in Africa: A Synthesis of the Case Studies,” in Ndulu, B. et al, eds.,The Political Economy of Economic Growth in Africa, 1960-2000, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. 137-172.

 

“Economic Growth in Ghana, 1960-2000” (withE. Aryeetey), in Ndulu et al, eds.,The Political Economy of Economic Growth in Africa, 1960-2000: Country Case Studies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. 289-324.

 

“Instabilities and Development in Africa,” in Senghor, J. C. and N. K. Poku, eds.,Towards Africa’s Renewal, Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2007, pp. 209-224.

 

“Introduction: Malaria and Poverty in Africa” (withG. Mwabu), in A. Fosu and G. Mwabu, eds.,Malaria and Poverty in Africa, Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 2007, 1-9.

 

“Understanding Malaria and Poverty in Africa: A Framework,” (withG. Mwabu), in A. Fosu and G. Mwabu, eds.,Malaria and Poverty in Africa, Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 2007, 11-41.

 

 

“Institutions, Governance and Economic Development in Africa: An Overview,” (withR. BatesandA. Hoeffler),Journal of African Economies, Supplement 1, 2006, 15(0), pp. 1-9.

 

“Explaining African Economic Growth: The Role of Anti-growth Syndromes,” (withS. O’Connell),Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE), (Francois Bourguignon and Boris Pleskovic, eds.) Washington, DC: World Bank, 2006, pp. 31-66.

 

“Introduction: Post-conflict Economies in Africa,” in A. K. Fosu and P. Collier, eds.,Post-conflict Economies in Africa, New York: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2005, pp. xv-xxv.

 

“Post-conflict Economies in Africa: Synthesis and Lessons,” in A. K. Fosu and P. Collier, eds.,Post Conflict Economies in Africa, New York: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2005, pp.231-240.

 

“The Social Impact of Globalization: The Scope for National Policies,” in Marco Vivarelli and Eddy Lee, eds.,Understanding Globalization, Employment and Poverty Reduction, ILO Volume, New York: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2004, pp. 327-348.

 

“Growth and Poverty in Africa: An Overview,” (withA. Bigsten) inJournal of African Economies, Vol. 13, Supplement 1, July 2004, pp. 1-15.

 

“External Debt Service Constraint and Government Expenditure on Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Some Implications for Nigeria,”Human Resource Development in Africa: Selected Papers for the 2002 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society, Ibadan: NES Secretariat, Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, 2003, 33-49.

 

“Public Sector Delivery: A Synthesis,” (withT. Ryan) inJournal of African Economies,Vol. 13, Supplement 1, July 2004, pp. 137-141.

 

“Economic Reforms and Restructuring in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview” (withM. Kimenyi and N. Ndung’u) inJournal of African Economies, Vol. 12, Supplement 2, September 2003, pp. 1-11.

 

“Globalization: An Overview” (withD. Bevan), inJournal of African Economies, Vol. 11, Supplement 1, February 2003, pp. 1-13.

 

"International Trade and Labor Market Adjustment in Developing Countries," in D. Greenaway, R. Upward and K. Wakelin, eds.,Trade, Investment, Migration and Labour Market Adjustment,London: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2002, pp. 137-156.

 

“Privatization and Corporate Governance: An Overview” (withM. Ayogu), inJournal of African Economies,Volume 11, Supplement 1 (February 2002), pp. 1-9.

 

"Business Environment and Investment in Africa: An Overview" (withK. Mlambo and T. W. Oshikoya), inJournal of African Economies, Vol. 10, Suppl. 2 (Sept. 2001), pp. 1-11.

 

"Financial and Currency Crises: An Overview" (withL.  Senbet), inJournal of African Economies, Vol. 10, Supplement 1 (February 2001), pp. 1-15.

 

"Promoting Competitiveness in Manufacturing in SSA" (withS. M. Nsouli and A. Varoudakis),in A. K. Fosu, S. M. Nsouli and A. Varoudakis, eds.,Policies to Promote Competitiveness in Manufacturing in Sub-Saharan Africa,Paris: OECD, 2001, pp. 9-12.

 

"A Panoramic View of Policies for Competitiveness in Manufacturing in Sub-Saharan Africa," in A. K. Fosu, S. Nsouli and A. Varoudakis, eds.,Promoting Competitiveness in Manufacturing in Sub-Saharan Africa,Paris: OECD, 2001, pp. 129-132.

               

"Poverty, Inequality and Intrahousehold Allocation Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview" (withG. Mwabu), inJournal of African Economies, Vol. 9, Supplement 1 (June 2000), pp. 3-8.

 

"The Joys and Sorrows of Openness: A Review Essay - Comment," in M.S. Osterbaan et al.,Economic Growth and Its Determinants, London: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000, pp. 68-73.

 

"Instabilities and Economic Growth in Contemporary Africa: The Role of Export Price Instability," in Thomas D. Boston, ed.,African-American Economic Thought,London: Routledge, 1997, pp. 401-409.

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