Botswana
Botswana has gained a reputation for its remarkable economic growth and prudent macroeconomic management. Over the past 35 years, the country has been transformed from one of the least developed countries, with 90 per cent of the population subsisting in drought-prone agriculture and a per capita income of about $360, to a middle-income country with 50 per cent of the labour force employed in formal sector activities. Though a small economy with abundant diamond resources, the country’s good governance has enabled the resources to be put to growth enhancing and development uses. The country continues to put in place reforms and measures to strengthen the economy, as well as to diversify it away from its dependence on diamonds. Economic growth has been strong over the past few decades with real GDP growth recording 9.2 per cent in 2000/01…
Au cœur de l’économie algérienne, le secteur des hydrocarbures représente plus de 30 pour cent du PIB, 97 pour cent des exportations et plus de 60 pour cent des revenus budgétaires. Le pays est par ailleurs caractérisé par un secteur public industriel peu performant, un chômage élevé qui touche près de 30 pour cent de la population active et une détérioration du niveau de vie de la population.
WITH A TRACK RECORD OF sound macroeconomic policies, good governance, reliable institutions and political stability, Botswana remains one of the topperforming economies in Africa. The country has managed its diamond wealth efficiently, in stark contrast to the widely cited cases of natural resource curse experienced by many developing countries. Botswana also has the reputation of being the least corrupt country in Africa and has the highest sovereign credit rating on the continent. These virtues, together with prudent...
De saines politiques macro-économiques associées à une gestion prudente des recettes du diamant ont fait du Botswana l’une des économies les plus dynamiques du monde depuis 25 ans, lui permettant de figurer désormais parmi les pays à revenu intermédiaire. Pourtant et malgré les efforts du gouvernement, l’économie reste fortement tributaire des exportations de diamant et le pays affiche toujours l’un des taux d’infection par le VIH/Sida les plus élevés du monde.
Sound macroeconomic policies and prudent use of diamond revenues have made Botswana one of the fastest-growing countries in the world over the last 25 years, and it has now achieved middle-income status. Despite the government’s efforts, however, the economy remains highly dependent on diamond exports, and the country continues to suffer from one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world.
BOTSWANA HAS BEEN AMONG the fastest-growing economies in Africa over the past 40 years. Sound macroeconomic policies and good governance have parlayed the country’s diamond resources into a remarkable transformation from one of the poorest countries in the world at independence to upper middle-income status. These impressive achievements have earned Botswana the highest sovereign debt ratings and best Transparency International anticorruption rank in Africa. GDP growth is estimated to have been 6.0 per cent in 2006/07 and is expected to remain buoyant at over 5 per cent in 2007/08 and 2008/09.
1995: Income Tax Act; regulates the taxation of contributions, investment income, and benefits. 1987: Pension and Provident Funds Act; regulates the establishment, registration, and operation of pension and provident funds
Botswana: Real GDP Growth and Per Capita GDP (USD/PPP at current prices) appears in African Economic Outlook 2009.
Botswana: Current Account (percentage of GDP at current prices) appears in African Economic Outlook 2009.
Botswana: Stock of Total External Debt (percentage of GDP) and Debt Service (percentage of exports of goods and services) appears in African Economic Outlook 2009.
Botswana: Public Finances (percentage of GDP at current prices) appears in African Economic Outlook 2009.
BOTSWANA’S REAL ECONOMIC GROWTH is likely to slow in 2009, largely as a result of global economic conditions. The country’s growth rate is estimated at 3.9 per cent for 2008 and forecast at 2.6 per cent and 2.9 per cent for 2009 and 2010 respectively. Several factors are responsible for the slowdown: inflationary pressures in 2008 resulting from rising oil, electricity and imported food prices; a decline in diamond production and an anticipated decline in international demand for diamonds; and falling international commodity prices, especially for copper and nickel. Inflationary pressures from oil prices eased towards the end of 2008, but those from electricity and food prices persisted.
LA CROISSANCE ÉCONOMIQUE EN volume du Botswana devrait ralentir en 2009, conséquence en grande partie du climat économique mondial. Le taux de croissance du pays est estimé à 3.9 pour cent pour 2008 et les prévisions pour 2009 et 2010 sont respectivement de 2.6 pour cent et 2.9 pour cent. Plusieurs facteurs sont à l’origine de ce ralentissement : les pressions inflationnistes de 2008 suite à la hausse du prix du pétrole, de l’électricité et des denrées alimentaires importées ; un déclin de la production de diamants et une baisse prévue de la demande internationale en diamants ; la chute des prix des matières premières au niveau international, notamment pour le cuivre et le nickel. Les pressions inflationnistes dues aux cours du pétrole ont décéléré vers la fin 2008, mais celles résultant du prix de l’électricité et des denrées alimentaires ont persisté.
Officially, women in Botswana have the same civil rights as men. However, the country has a dual legal system in which common law and customary law exist side by side, as well as a long history of traditional laws, which are enforced by tribal structures and customary courts. As a result, societal discrimination against women persists in practice, particularly in rural areas and in terms of property rights and economic opportunities.