{"product_id":"9780821332986","title":"Africa's Experience with Structural Adjustment: Proceedings of the Harare Seminar, May 23-24, 1994","description":"This paper summarizes the proceedings of a seminar on structural adjustment in Africa, which was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on May 23-24, 1994 and also includes papers presented by some of the participants. While generally agreeing with the need for structural adjustment, several participants expressed concern about the speed with which these reforms are being implemented in Africa, particularly since most of the adjusting economies have poorly developed institutions and therefore have limited implementation capacity. Representatives of the private sector pointed out that the accelerated pace of trade liberalization had rapidly exposed African economies to international competition without giving domestic industries adequate time to adjust, resulting in de-industrialization and poor employment creation. It was noted that although adjustment programs talked of levelling the playing field, the international trading arena was highly uneven, GAAT and the Uruguay round notwithstanding, and there appeared to be a double standard with African economies being required to open up at a time when the economies of Western Europe, U.S.A., and Japan still retained their protectionist stance. In addition, South Africa, which is a major trading partner of Eastern and Southern African economies, was also protecting its domestic manufacturers behind extremely high tariff barriers and was promoting its exports through direct export subsidies. Concern was also expressed about the social impact of adjustment programs and the declines in real per capita expenditures in health and education presently being experienced in Africa.  ","brand":"World Bank Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47031513415920,"sku":"9780821332986","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780821332986_p0.gif?v=1763750936","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780821332986","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}