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Showing all content in Liberia
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Blog post
Herbert M’cleod: The man behind the scenes, striving for peace
IGC Sierra Leone and Liberia Country Director Herbert M’cleod passed away on 19 May 2022. Professor Rachel Glennerster, Lead Academic in the IGC Sierra Leone programme until 2017, when she was appointed Chief Economist at the UK Department for International Development (now FCDO), pens a tribute to her long-time friend and mentor. Sierra Leone, the African continent, and...
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Project
How gender and migrant status affects collective action among street vendors
Cities across sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing an influx of migration from rural regions and abroad, creating challenges for sustainable growth and development. Ensuring the economic and social incorporation of these foreign or rural migrants into the urban political economy is a critical challenge. While migrants face intense market competition (livelihood) in some...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Increasing property tax compliance in Liberia: Evidence on the role of detection and enforcement capacity
Many developing countries suffer from low tax collection rates. Broadening the tax base and effectively enforcing tax liabilities is crucial for economic and political development. Property tax compliance in Liberia is limited: an estimated 5% to 10% of properties are registered on the tax roll. Year-on-year compliance for registered properties is also weak. ...
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Project
Fragility and instability in Liberia: Understanding the root causes and potential implications
Following the end of the civil war in 2003, the Liberian government focused on rebuilding state institutions, provision of basic services and infrastructure, ensuring good governance and rule of law, and reviving the economy among others. The economy had grown to 8.7% before it plummeted to 0.7% in 2014 due to the twin shocks of the fall in commodity prices and the...
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Project
Artisanal small-scale gold mining and sustainable development in Liberia
In a context of gold price boom, the rapid development of Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASgM) raises several challenges for local communities, as well as local and national governments. At the same time that it could provide economic opportunities for local communities, it could also lead to issues related to health, the environment, and social cohesion. With mines...
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Project
Exploratory study in artisanal small-scale mining in Liberia
Although Liberia has significant mineral wealth, due to the informality of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector (ASM), and a limited government capacity to monitor it, the country cannot maximise the revenue from the exploitation of non-renewable resources. The Liberian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) currently relies on underpaid agents and volunteers to monitor...
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Project
Fostering trust in state authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Liberia
The lack of trust in the government inhibited the responses to the Ebola epidemics in West Africa (2014-16) and the DRC (2018-present), and the current COVID-19 pandemic. With poor health infrastructure and mistrust in state institutions, Liberia is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to infectious diseases like COVID-19. The experience with epidemics and...
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Blog post
West Africa’s artisanal gold mining sector: An overlooked driver of development?
Most recent research on mining sector policy reform in West Africa has focused on the potential of large-scale multinational mining companies to transform developing economies. There has been comparatively less analysis of the economic impact of mining activities carried out informally and at a micro-scale. The artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector – informal, low...
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Project
Foreign investment to medium-sized firms: A boost to post-conflict economic recovery?
After Liberia emerged from two brutal civil wars, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was voted into office. Her focus was on rebranding Liberia away from “a nation in permanent violent turmoil” by opening Liberia’s doors to foreign direct investment (FDI). A group of economists have conducted research specifically on large natural resource FDI flows into Liberia and how it...