Ousmanou Njikam - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ousmanou Njikam

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Jun 1, 2003

Review of Development Economics, Jan 15, 2019

We argue that multinationals from different home countries have different technologies and input ... more We argue that multinationals from different home countries have different technologies and input sourcing behavior. These differences impinge on potential productivity spillovers through backward linkages of multinationals and such effects also differ across host local firms depending on their absorptive capacity. Using a panel of Cameroonian manufacturing firms over the period 1993 to 2005, we find supportive evidence of these arguments. There is a negative relationship between the presence of American and European affiliates in downstream sectors and the productivity of Cameroonian firms in the supplying industries and a positive correlation in the case of Asian affiliates. The absorptive capacity of Cameroonian firms mainly explains these divergent results. P A C S O12, F23 K E Y W O R D S absorptive capacity, backward linkages, foreign investor origin, Foreign presence 1 | INTRODUCTION Technology plays a key role in determining productivity (Easterly & Levine, 2001). Developing countries (LDCs) carry out very little (if any) own research and development (R&D), so, they rely on foreign technology from developed economies. There are two main modes of technology transfer across countries: international trade and foreign direct investment (FDI). As regards the latter

Summary: Using pre-and post-reform industry-level panel and aggregate national infrastructure dat... more Summary: Using pre-and post-reform industry-level panel and aggregate national infrastructure data, this paper examines the effects of infrastructure on industry productivity in Cameroon, controlling for trade variable and correcting for the likely endogeneity of infrastructure and other regressors. The empirical strategy involves, (i) estimation of production functions augmented by the infrastructure quantity and quality indicators and then derivation of industry-level

International Review of Economics & Finance, May 1, 2016

In this article we analyze whether trade and labor market liberalization affects the demand for t... more In this article we analyze whether trade and labor market liberalization affects the demand for total, skilled and unskilled employment in the manufacturing sector. The analysis uses Cameroonian firm-level data before (1988-91) and after (1994-01) both reforms. Comparing treated and untreated (control) firms in a difference-indifferences framework, we find that the reforms have been successful in boosting the demand for unskilled jobs, explaining 1.3-9.5% increase in the demand for unskilled workers. We also find evidence of no clear effects of reforms on total and skilled labor demand. The sector-level results do not change the previous findings. The findings are also robust to changes in the definition of treated and control firms.

Research Papers, 2004

This study assesses the impact of trade liberalization in the Union Douaniere des Etats de l'Afri... more This study assesses the impact of trade liberalization in the Union Douaniere des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC) on the productive efficiency of the electrical plants in Cameroon. A comparison of four-year balanced panel data on 29 firms before trade liberalization and five-year unbalanced panel data of 35 firms after trade liberalization shows that the reforms had the expected positive effects on firms' productive efficiency measures. Specifically, the average technical efficiency is 9.1% higher after trade liberalization than before trade liberalization. Post trade liberalization firm-specific technical efficiencies increase on average at the rate of 2.74%, while the pre trade liberalization firm-specific technical efficiencies increase on average at a mild rate of 0.59%. The positive impact of trade liberalization is also indicated in gains of about 4.74% in overall technical progress. These results were obtained by estimating a flexible stochastic production frontier, i.e., a transcendental logarithmic (translog) form, before and after trade liberalization.

The Journal of Development Studies, 2022

Table A2. Firm exit by year, mode of globalization, sector and group size (i) Exit rate (%) by ye... more Table A2. Firm exit by year, mode of globalization, sector and group size (i) Exit rate (%) by year a (ii) Exit rate (%) by sector (iii) Exit rate (%) group size b Year Exit rate Sector Exit rate Size Exit rate 1993 6.94 Food processing 27.59 Small firms 49.65 1994 7.03 Textile-weaving 5.98 Medium firms 27.77 1995 8.88 Wood-furniture 18.98 Large firms 23.11 1996 8.61 Paper-printing 9.93

Using a panel data set on Cameroonian manufacturing firms from 1993 to 2005, this paper evaluates... more Using a panel data set on Cameroonian manufacturing firms from 1993 to 2005, this paper evaluates the direct and indirect effects of the presence of foreign ownership on the productivity growth of local firms. We investigate spillovers through horizontal and backward linkages, differentiated by the country of origin of foreign investors. The paper also investigates whether and how the absorptive capacity of Cameroonian indigenous firms moderates the effect of foreign presence on productivity. Controlling for the degree of competition, our results indicate that foreign firms perform better than Cameroonian indigenous firms. We find evidence of negative intra-and interindustry spillovers. The analysis also produces evidence of negative spillovers from American, European and Asian affiliates through backward linkages. These negative horizontal and vertical productivity spillovers are mainly due to the limited absorptive capacity of Cameroonian firms, i.e., firms with the highest levels of absorptive capacity suffer the less from foreign presence. The results are robust to the use of different specifications.

Project number related to IDRC support could not be determinedThis paper assesses factors behind ... more Project number related to IDRC support could not be determinedThis paper assesses factors behind differences in total factor productivity (TFP) across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries over the period 1965-2000. Results show that openness to world trade is conducive to TFP in SSA region only if issues related to supply conditions such as: poor transport and communication infrastructure, erratic supply of electric energy, corruption and bad governance, insufficient education of the labour force, etc. are adequately addressed. Physical capital accumulation is important for TFP; the size of the financial sector matters; and, population growth is conducive for TFP in some SSA countries and negative in others

Journal of African Trade, 2017

Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch ge... more Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Terms of use: Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your personal and scholarly purposes. You are not to copy documents for public or commercial purposes, to exhibit the documents publicly, to make them publicly available on the internet, or to distribute or otherwise use the documents in public.

Review of Development Economics, 2019

The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, 2018

This study examined the relationship between exports and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. I... more This study examined the relationship between exports and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. It employed innovative econometric methods, including the Fourier ADF with structural break test, a comparative analysis of three causality tests and a rolling causality test procedure. The findings suggested that there was a statistically significant relationship between exports and economic growth in several Sub-Saharan countries. However, the causal linkages between exports and economic growth in these countries were found to be weak and unstable. These empirical results have some notable policy implications.

African Development Review, 2017

Rice production in Cameroon is characterized by smallholder type of production, disease‐plagued f... more Rice production in Cameroon is characterized by smallholder type of production, disease‐plagued farms, huge inefficiency, and largely depends on agro‐ecological conditions. So, the country imports most of its domestic consumption needs of rice. Using survey data from 1,141 Cameroonian smallholder rice farmers, their scores of technical efficiency, determinants and the extent of their variability across three agro‐ecological zones are analyzed. The results suggest significant room for improvement in the farmers’ technical efficiency which varies largely across and within agro‐ecological zones. Correlates of technical efficiency differentials among the farmers differ across agro‐ecological zones, ranging from the age and experience of farmer and land ownership in the Sahel, age of farmer, land ownership and distance village‐farm in the western highland, to agricultural training in the bimodal humid rain forest zone.

Review of Development Finance, 2017

This paper examines whether the effect of financial liberalization on economic growth depends on ... more This paper examines whether the effect of financial liberalization on economic growth depends on reform complementarities. A non-linear growth regression specification that interacts a proxy of financial liberalization with proxies of reform complementarities is estimated using a panel of 45 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. The crosscountry , panel-data evidence shows no clear relationship between financial liberalization and growth. The study however finds that financial liberalization is more likely to positively and significantly increase growth across the SSA region if the following complementary reforms are undertaken e.g. improvement in educational attainment, macroeconomic and external stability, and overall governance.

International Review of Economics & Finance, 2016

African Journal of Business Management, Jun 30, 2011

Following the 1980s economic crisis and the implementation of structural adjustments, several peo... more Following the 1980s economic crisis and the implementation of structural adjustments, several people shifted to the informal sector with the hope to earn a living. Among such groups are the cross-border traders. What are the opportunities offered through informal ...

International Journal of Economics and Finance, 2011

What are the opportunities offered through informal cross-border trade-ICBT? What are the busines... more What are the opportunities offered through informal cross-border trade-ICBT? What are the business and institutional constraints hindering the achievement of these opportunities? What are the coping mechanisms and do they differ with gender? These issues are addressed in this paper using the survey data covering three border sites in Cameroon e.g. Cameroon-Gabon-Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon-Chad-Nigeria, and Cameroon-Nigeria. A number of clear patterns emerge from the analysis. First, we find significant differences in the male-female socioeconomic characteristics. Second, opportunities related to ICBT range from the strengthening of regional integration, involvement of women in the decision-making process within households, to the fulfilment of basic needs. Third, negative aspects of ICBT include violence-both physical and psychological and poor childrearing. We finally find gender differentials not only in the constraints faced, but in the coping strategies as well.