In Pursuit of Science and Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Impact of Structural Adjustment Programmes (Unu Intech Studies in New Technology and Development)

303 Pages·1995·2.33 MB·English

by  John Enos

In pursuit of science and technology
in Sub-Saharan Africa

This volume examines the progress of Sub-Saharan African countries in
advancing science and technology in the context of the Structural Adjust-
ment Programmes they have undertaken.
John Enos looks at the pursuit of science and technology both before
and after structural adjustment programmes have been attempted in
Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. He looks at the efficiency with
which the research and development has been carried out, the transfer-
ability of scientific and technical resources from one activity to another
and the directions in which advances are channelled. The institutions
that receive resources are identified as well as the rates at which those
resources are allocated. Finally, John Enos looks at who makes the deci-
sions governing the resources devoted to furthering science and tech-
nology and with what objectives.
The findings in this important study will be of interest to students and
academics in economic development and to professional economists and
administrators directing economic development agencies, as well as to offi-
cials in economic planning and finance ministries in developing countries.
J.L.Enos is a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
UNU/INTECH Studies in New Technology and
Development
Series editors: Charles Cooper and Swasti Mitter
The books in this series reflect the research initiatives at the United Nations
University Institute for New Technologies (UNU/INTECH) based in
Maastricht, the Netherlands. This institute is primarily a research centre
within the UN system, and evaluates the social, political and economic en-
vironment in which new technologies are adopted and adapted in the devel-
oping world. The books in the series explore the role that technology poli-
cies can play in bridging the economic gap between nations, as well as be-
tween groups within nations. The authors and contributors are leading
scholars in the field of technology and development; their work focuses on:
(cid:127) the social and economic implications of new technologies;
(cid:127) processes of diffusion of such technologies to the developing world;
(cid:127) thei mpacto fs ucht echnologieso ni ncome,e mploymenta nde nvironment;
(cid:127) the political dynamics of technology transfer.
The series is a pioneering attempt at placing technology policies at the
heart of national and international strategies for development. This is likely
to prove crucial in the globalized market, for the competitiveness and
sustainable growth of poorer nations.
1 Women Encounter Technology
Perspectives of the Third World
Edited by Swasti Mitter and Sheila Rowbotham
2 In Pursuit of Science and Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa
The impact of Structural Adjustment Programmes
J.L.Enos
3 Politics of Technology in Latin America
Edited bu Maria Inês Bastos and Charles M.Cooper
4 Exporting Africa
Technology, Trade and Industrialization in Sub-Saharan Africa
Edited by Samuel M.Wangwe
In pursuit of science and
technology in Sub-Saharan
Africa
The impact of structural adjustment
programmes

J.L.Enos

London and New York
Published in association with the UNU Press
First published 1995
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2003.

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001

© 1995 UNU/INTECH
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Enos, John L. (John Lawrence), 1924–
In pursuit of science and technology in sub-Saharan Africa: the impact of
structural adjustment programmes/J.L.Enos.h
p. cm.—(UNU/INTECH studies in new technologies and development)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Structural adjustment (Economic policy)—Africa, Sub-Saharan—Case
studies. 2. Technology and state—Africa, Sub-Saharan—Case studies.
3. Science and state—Africa, Sub-Saharan—Case studies. I. Title. II. Series.
HC800.E56 1995
338.967–dc20 95–58
CIP

ISBN 0-203-20897-8 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 0-203-26724-9 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0-415-12689-4
ISSN 1359–7922
Contents
List of figures viii
List of tables ix
Preface xiv
Part I: Introduction
1 Scope and method 3
Introduction 3
Objectives of the study 4
Sampling procedure 7
Approach to the study 7
Outline of the book 10
2 Choice and application of economic theory 12
Introduction 12
Consequences, in theory, of advancing science and technology 14
The timing, in theory, of advancing science and technology 15
Theories of structural adjustment 22
Guidance for the study 33
Part II The Pursuit of Science and Technology
3 Ghana 37
Introduction 37
Recent economic history 39
The prospects for industry 44
The structural adjustment programme 51
R&D institutions 52
Science and technology at the Ghanaian universities 64
Ghana’s total expenditures on the pursuit of science and
technology 71
v
vi Contents
4 Kenya 76
Introduction 76
Recent economic history 77
Investment for the future 85
R&D institutions 88
Science and technology at the Kenyan universities 95
Estimating Kenya’s total expenditures on advancing science
and technology 98
5 Tanzania 105
Introduction 105
Macro-economic trends in the Tanzanian economy 106
The structural readjustment programmes 115
R&D institutions 119
Education in science and technology 129
Estimates of the resources devoted to the pursuit of science
and technology 135
6 Uganda 145
Introduction 145
Recent economic history 146
Investment for the future 149
R&D institutions 152
The Scientific and Technical Faculties of the University 164
Summary 166
Part III: Effects of the Pursuit of Science and Technology
7 Effects on the economy as a whole 171
Introduction 171
Overall expenditures on advancing science and technology 173
Expenditures of R&D institutes 178
Government financing of advances in science and technology 181
Flow of foreign funds into science and technology 183
Summary of the statistical evidence 185
A counterfactual experiment 188
8 Effects among sectors of the economy 193
Introduction 193
Economic activity by sector 194
Mobility between sectors 198
Transfer of resources and institutions from the public to the
private sector 201
Summary 203
Contents vii
9 Effects within organizations 205
Introduction 205
Distinguishing between goods of greater and lesser economic
potential for sub-Saharan African countries 206
The maintenance of firms’ capital equipment 210
The effectiveness of R&D efforts 212
A counterfactual experiment 216
Summary 221
Part IV: Conclusions and Recommendations
10 Conclusions 225
Introduction 225
A summary of the conclusions 226
Fluctuations in local government expenditures on the pursuit of
science and technology 226
Increases in total expenditures on the pursuit of science and
technology 232
The effects upon different areas of science and technology have
been widely different 238
The areas of science and technology most vigorously pursued
are increasingly determined by foreigners 244
The choice of the areas of science and technology to be
pursued is based primarily upon the effects of such choice
on the developed countries 248
Changes in decision-making for science and technology 249
11 Policy recommendations 257
Introduction 257
The Sub-Saharan economies in 2023 258
The aims of policy 261
The redirection of education and R&D 262
Devoting more resources to advancing science and technology 263
The direction in which R&D should move 264
Additional resources needed to increase the advance of science
and technology 266
Policy implications of providing additional resources 267
Summary of policy recommendations 273
Bibliography 275
Index 282
Figures
1.1 Flow diagram of the model of structural adjustment 6
2.1 Production of goods X and Y by the economy, before and
after advances in science and technology 27
2.2 Production possibilities for the economy with different
& 2.3 elasticities of substitution for intermediate goods 29
2.4 Alternative trajectories with different values for the
& 2.5 parameters measuring the elasticity of substitution (ß) and
the efficiency of inputs (δ) 31
7.1 Visual comparison of actual Case I with counterfactual
Case II 191
9.1 Production possibility curves for the present and future
under Cases I and III 217
9.2 Terms of trade, exports and imports at some future date
under Case I 219
9.3 Terms of trade, exports and imports at some future date
under Case III 219
9.4 Total consumption at some future date under Cases I and III 221
10.1 Ghana: Expenditures on advancing science and technology,
as a percentage of GDP, 1978/9–1991/2 236
10.2 Kenya: Expenditures on advancing science and technology,
as a percentage of GDP, 1986/7–1990/1 236
10.3 Tanzania: Expenditures on advancing science and
technology, as a percentage of GDP, 1982/3–1991/2 237
10.4 Uganda: Expenditures on advancing science and
technology, as a percentage of GDP, 1982/3–1991/2 237
viii
Tables
3.1 Ghana: GDP 1965–1991 40
3.2 Ghana: population, GDP per capita and annual rate of growth
of GDP 1965–1991 41
3.3 Ghana: GDP by sector 1965–1991 42
3.4 Ghana: public, private and total investment as percentages of
GDP 1970–1991 43
3.5 Ghana: balance of payments 1970–1991 45
3.6 Ghana: debt servicing 1970–1991 46
3.7 Ghana: total debt and its composition, 1970–1991 47
3.8 Ghana: government revenues, expenditures and investment
1969–1991 48
3.9 Ghana: Industrial Research Institute requests for and
allocations of funds 1980–1991 54
3.10 Ghana: Scientific Instrumentation Centre requests for and
allocations of funds 1981–1991 57
3.11 Ghana: Food Research Institute requests for and allocations of
funds 1981–1991 59
3.12 Ghana: Technology Transfer Centre request for and
allocations of funds 1988–1991 60
3.13 Ghana: Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana requests for funds
and actual expenditures 1975/6–1990/1 65
3.14 Ghana: Technology Consultancy Centre requests for funds
and actual expenditures 1972–1990 68
3.15 Ghana: compilation of expenditures (or approvals) on R&D
by a sample of organizations, and comparison with estimates
of total public expenditure on R&D 1980–1992 72
3.16 Ghana: R&D expenditures by the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research 1974–1981 73
ix