Abstract

The growth potential of the Gambian economy has improved markedly since 1985/86 with the removal of distortions in the structure of relative prices, the strengthening in economic incentives, including the introduction of a market-determined exchange rate, and the rehabilitation of economic infrastructure. These policies have encouraged a diversification of the production base primarily toward services (such as regional trade and tourism) and to a lesser extent manufacturing, while broadening at the same time the base of agricultural output. Notwithstanding the progress made in diversifying economic activity, the output base of the economy remains fragile; it continues to be sensitive to changes in the weather, as well as external and regional developments.

Economic Adjustment in a Small Open Economy
  • Aghevli, Bijan B., and others, The Role of National Saving in the World Economy: Recent Trends and Prospects, IMF Occasional Paper, No. 67 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, March 1990).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Aghevli, Bijan B. Khan, Mohsin S. Montiel, Peter J. Exchange Rate Policy in Developing Countries: Some Analytical Issues, IMF Occasional Paper, No. 78 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, March 1991).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Boughton, James M.,The CFA Franc Zone: Currency Union and Monetary Standard,IMF Working Paper, No. WP91/133 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, December 1991).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • de Merode, Louis,Civil Service Pay and Employment Reform in Africa: Selected Implementation Experiences,Division Study Paper, No. 2, Institutional Development and Management Division, Africa Technical Department (Washington: World Bank, June 1991).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • International Monetary Fund, Interest Rate Policies in Developing Countries, IMF Occasional Paper, No. 22 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, October 1983).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • International Monetary Fund, Fund-Supported Programs, Fiscal Policy, and Income Distribution, IMF Occasional Paper, No. 46 (Washington: International Monetary Fund September 1986).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, May, 1992, World Economic and Financial Surveys (Washington: International Monetary Fund, 1992).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kapur, Ishan, and others, Ghana: Adjustment and Growth, 1983–91, IMF Occasional Paper, No. 86 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, September 1991).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Leite, Sergio Pereira, Sundararajan, V.Issues in Interest Rate Management and Liberalization,Staff Papers, International Monetary Fund (Washington), Vol. 37 (December 1990) pp. 73552.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Quirk, Peter J., and others, Floating Exchange Rates in Developing Countries: Experience with Auction and Interbank Markets, IMF Occasional Paper, No. 53 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, May 1987).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sallah, Tijan M.,Economics and Politics in The Gambia,The Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 28(4) (1990), pp. 62148.

  • Stiglitz, Joseph, and Weiss, AndrewCredit Rationing in Markets with Imperfect Information,American Economic Review, Vol. 71, No. 3 (June 1981), pp. 393410.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Turtelboom, BartInterest Rate Liberalization: Some Lessons from Africa,IMF Working Paper, No. WP91/121 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, December 1991).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Villanueva, Delano, and Mirakhor, AbbasStrategies for Financial Reforms,Staff Papers, International Monetary Fund (Washington), Vol. 37 (September 1990), pp. 50936.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • von Braun, JoachimSocial Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Reflections on Policy Challenges,in Social Security in Developing Countries, ed. by Ehtisham Ahmad and others(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1991), pp. 395413.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Walsh, BrendanInterest Rates, Financial Markets, and Economic Development in The Gambia” (unpublished; Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, The Gambia, January 1991).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Wong, Chorng-Huey,Market-Based Systems of Monetary Control in Developing Countries: Operating Procedures and Related Issues,IMF Working Paper, No. WP91/40 (Washington: International Monetary Fund, 1991).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation