Ambilikile Economics 2

Ambilikile, C.
M Economics paper two
CHAPTER ONE
THE NATIONAL INCOME
MEASUREMENT OF THE NATIONAL INCOME (THE NATIONAL INCOME

ACCOUNTING)
The national income accounting is the process of measuring the value of the national
income in a specific period of time, like a year. Before looking at the methods of
measuring the national income, let us look into the circular flow of income, output and
expenditure.
Circular Flow of Income
Income to firms by selling goods = Expenditures by households
Y≡ E
Sale of goods and services to households
FIRMS
HOUSEHOLDS
Sale of input, e.g. labour, to firms
Expenditure of firms on inputs = Income of households, by selling inputs

E≡ Y
Figure 1.1: Circular flow of the national income

Assumptions of the Circular Flow
The circular flow of the national income has the following assumptions:
• It assumes a closed economy, in which there is no foreign trade such that commodities
are produced and consumed within the country.
• There is no leakage, like savings. This means all the income received by individuals
must be spent on goods and services and non remains for savings.
• Simple economy with two sectors of the economy which are, business firms and
households (consumers)
• Households own the factors of production.
• It assumes that households supply all the factors needed for the production of
commodities, and receive payments in the form of wages, rent, salaries, etc.
• It assumes that households spend all their income in buying goods and services that
are provided by the producers. Therefore, the household's expenditure is the
producer’s income.
Note
From the circular flow of income, we can see that, each time any commodity is produced
and sold. Its market value is equal to the value of the expenditure of the consumers on
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Ambilikile, C.M Economics paper two
that commodity and it is received as income, to all the participants (factors of production)
in the process of production and exchange.
Leakages (withdraws)
This is an income that does not passed go through the circular flow of income. For
example, tax, imports, savings and capital outflow. It has a contraction effect on the
national income.
Injections
These are the additions to the domestic income, arising from other expenditures apart
from the domestic households. It has an expansionary effect on the national income.
Examples of the injections in the economy are: investments, the government
expenditures, exports and capital inflow. If any of these injections change, it leads to a
change in the national income.
Methods of Calculating the National Income
There are three methods of calculating the national income, namely:
(i) Product method
(ii) Expenditure method
(iii) Income method
(i) Product Method:
In this method of computing the national income, the value of the national income is
obtained by taking the values of goods and services produced by the citizens of a given
country for period of time. The national income, by this method can be reflected by the
Gross National Product.
The Gross National Product
This is the total value of all the goods and services produced in the country in a particular
year. It is usually calculated at factor cost that is, excluding subsidies and taxes imposed on
the goods or services. It is, in fact, the cost of the total output of the producers. After
taking account of the net income from abroad, which is the value of exports less the value
of imports, we have the Gross.
National Product at Factor Cost
Having calculated the Gross National product, it is possible to calculate the national
income. All that is required is to make an estimate of the capital consumption that has
taken place during the year, and deduct this from the Gross National Product. Thus, it
will be seen that, the national income is in effect the net national product, that is, the total
volume of production after allowance has been made for that part of production that was
devoted to making goods the depreciation of the existing capital equipment.
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Gross National Product at Factor Cost of country X in 1978.

Table 1.1: The national income by product method
Products or services Year 1978
Tshs. million
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 3715
Mining and quarrying 4467
Manufacturing 40690
Building and construction 8610
Gas, electricity and water 4772
Transport and communication 11688
Distributive trades 14687
Insurance, banking and finance 11268
Public administration and defence 10197
Ownership of dwellings 8578
Public health and education 9674
Other services (net) 11137
Gross domestic product 139483
Net income from abroad 3352
Gross National Product at factor cost 142835
The national income (1)

YEAR 1978
Tshs. million
Gross national product 142835
Less capital consumption 18310
The national income 124525
This method can be divided into two approaches:

• Final product approach
• Value added approach
• Final Product Approach: In this approach, the national income is calculated by taking the
market values of all the final products produced in the country, for a given period of
time. For example, assume a simple economy that produces only one commodity, e.g.
cloth and the market value of the cloth produced is Tshs. 1000/=. By applying the
final product approach, the value of the national income, for this simple economy, will
be equal to the value of the final goods produced, i.e. Tshs. 1000/=
• Value Added = Value of Next Stage – Value of the Previous Stage, so the value of the final
product = the sum of values added in different stages; from the first stage (production)
up to the last stage (exchange). For example, in a simple economy, a cotton farmer
produces cotton and sells it to a threading company at Tshs. 400 per kg; the threading
Company produces threads and sells it to the Weaving Company at Tshs. 700 per kg.
The Weaving Company processes the product and sells it to the Textile Company for
Tshs. 900 per kg. The textile Company produces cloth and sells it to a final consumer
for Tshs. 1000 per kg.
If the value of cotton is calculated by adding 400 + 700 + 900 + 1000, it will be
equal to Tshs. 3000. This will result into double counting, triple counting, and
quadruple counting. Therefore, in order to obtain the correct value of the Gross
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National Product, only the value added is taken into account. From the above example,
the value of a national product of a simple economy will be therefore calculated as
follows:
Table 1.2: Value added method
Section (stages) Value added (Tshs.)
Farming (400 - 0) 400
Threading (700 - 400) 300
Weaving (900 - 700) 200
Textile (1000 - 900) 100
GNP of the economy 1000
(ii) Income Method:

In this method, the value of the national income is obtained by summing incomes such as
rent, wages, profit, interest, dividends, allowances for the depreciation of fixed assets,
returns on royalties, surpluses, etc.
Example 1
In this example, the value of the national income is obtained by taking the total income
derived from economic activities as shown in table 1.2 above, whether the national
income is calculated as the total volume of production or the total income derived from
economic activities the two totals must be the same. Indeed, the volume of production
and the national income are the same thing. It is certain that this must be so, since what is
paid by a consumer for a commodity is income to all those who have had a share in its
production. Each commodity, it is said, represents merely a collection of the services of
those who have obtained the raw materials changed its form in some way, transported and
marketed it at wholesale and retail stages.
Table 1.3: Total income - Income methods
Year 1978
Type of income Tshs. million
96156
Income from employment 12091
Income from self-employment 2037
Pay in cash and kind of the Forces 9842
Rent 13968
Profits of companies 5187
Profits of public enterprises 3352
Other income
Total income 142835
The national income (the net national product) 124525
Example 2
Find the national income by income method, given the following information:
• Payment to workers in a current year amounted to Tshs. 60 million.
• Existing surpluses Tshs. 30 million.
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• Rent and royalties accrued Tshs. 50 million.

• Share holders’ dividend Tshs. 10 million.
• Profit realized Tshs. 5 million.
Solution
The national income = wages + profits + surpluses + rent (royalties) + dividends
The national income = 60 m + 30 m + 50 m + 10 m + 5 m = Tshs. 155 million
(iii) Expenditure Method
A third method of calculating the national income is to find the total of all expenditures
incurred during the year.
Table 1.4: Total Expenditure - The national incomes (3)
Type of expenditure Year 1978
Tshs. million
Personal consumption 17592
Food 7366
Clothing 13855
Housing (Rent and rates; maintenance) 4650
Fuel and light 7471
Alcoholic drinks 3933
Tobacco 11258
Household goods 1388
Books, newspapers, etc 5227
Cars and motor-cycles; running costs 3207
Travel 1387
Insurance 4233
Catering (meals and accommodations) 1952
Entertainments 11019
Other goods and services 94538
Total personal consumption
Expenditure of public authorities 30964
Gross domestic capital formation 28731
Less indirect taxes on goods and services 157585
-14750
Gross national expenditure at 142835
factor cost
Net national expenditure 124525
Therefore, the national income by expenditure method can be summarized that the
national income =C + I + G + (X - M)
Where;
C = Individual expenditures on the consumption of final goods and services
I = Firms expenditures on investment goods and the government expenditures on capital
goods.
G = The government expenditures on items such as social services, wages to civil
servants, security, etc.
X = Foreigners’ expenditures on the consumption of goods and services produced by the
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country citizens. Exports must be included, because they earn income to the citizens
of a country.
M = Expenditure by firms, individuals and the government on goods and services
produced by foreigners. Expenditures on imports must be excluded, because they
involve on outflow of income from the economy.
Determinants of the Size of the National Income
The national income is determined by the following factors:
• The available stock of natural resources: The availability of a large stock of natural resources
such as minerals, water sources, soils, weather condition, etc. influences the growth of
the national income, such that a low stock of natural resources leads to low
production, consequently to a low the national income and vice versa.
• The stock of capital goods: The size of the national income in the country depends on the
size of the capital goods available in the country. If the size of capital goods, such as
factories, machines, infrastructure and raw materials, is large, the country would
experience a fast growth of the national income, unlike when a nation is facing
shortage of the capital goods.
• Level of technology: The size of the national income depends on the level of technology
that a country has achieved, if production is done by using advanced technology in the
country, the output as well as the national income would be large.
• The availability of Human Resources: The national income is influenced by the available
labour, both skilled and unskilled, as well as the managerial capacity, efficiency and the
number of entrepreneurs.
• Political Situation: When there is political stability in the country, investors become
confident to invest their capital, therefore, resulting into an increase in the national
income.
• The government Policies and Actions: The growth of the national income depends on sound
economic policies, which are formulated by the government in order to stimulate
economic growth.
• Terms of Trade: This is the ratio of the price index of exports and the price index of
imports, if the price index of a country's export is greater than the price index of
import, the national income will grow, since more income will be received through
exports, unlike when the terms of trade are unfavourable.
Concepts Relating to The national income
The concepts relating to the national income are as follows:
- GNP = Gross National Product: This is the sum of the market values of the goods and
services produced by the citizens of a given country for a period of time. GNP is
obtained by summing the value of goods and services produced by citizens of a
country, living within and outside the country.
Or
Gross National Product (GNP): This is the national income produced by citizens of a
country, living within and outside the country.
GNP = GDP + factor income from abroad.
- GDP = Gross Domestic Product: This is the sum of the market values of goods and
services produced within the country by all the residents (people living in the country)
in a given period of time.
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Or
Gross Domestic Product (GDP):This is the national income produced within the country by all the
residents, both citizens and non citizens.
- Net Factor Income from Abroad (N.F.I): This is the difference between income received by
citizens of a country, working abroad, and income received by foreigners who are
working in the country or who have investment in the country.
N.F.I = Net income from abroad – Income received by foreigners.
N.F.I = income inflow – income outflow.
GNP = GDP + net factor income from abroad.
GNP = GDP + (x – m).
GDP = GNP – net factor income
- Net National Product (NNP): Is the sum of the market values of goods and services
produced by the country’s citizens after the deduction of capital consumption, i.e.
depreciation.
NNP = GNP – depreciation.
Depreciation is the wear and tear of the capital goods that are used in the process of
production. NNP is the national income.
Note
Depreciation is the payment on capital for their wear and tear. So, it is the cost incurred on
capital goods and therefore, it can be regarded as a factor income on the capital goods.
This means that it can be added to other incomes, when computing the national income
by income method.
Income Method
The national income (N.I) is the summation of incomes including depreciation.
N.I = Rent + Interest + Profit + Wages + Depreciation.
GNP at Market Price and at Factor Cost
Gross national product can either be measured at market price or at factor cost. When it is
measured at market price, it includes indirect taxes imposed by the government, but
excludes subsidies provided by the government to the producers and consumers. When it
is measured at factor cost, it includes only factor costs, i.e. factor incomes. This means
that, in order to get gross national product at factor cost, indirect tax must be deducted
and then add subsidies:
GNP at market price = GNP at factor cost + indirect tax – subsidies
GNP at factor cost = GNP at market price – indirect tax + subsidies
GDP at market price = GNP at factor cost + indirect tax – subsidies
GDP at factor cost = GDP at market price – indirect tax + subsidies
National disposable income = National income – direct tax
Personal disposable income = Personal income – income tax
Uses of The national income Statistics
The national income statistics has the following uses:
- The national income statistics can be used to show the growth rate of the national
economy by comparing the GNP of different years. For example, if the GNP of
country X, in the year 2000, was Tshs. 20 million and GNP, of the year 2001, was
Tshs. 40 million, then the growth rate of the national income was 100 percent. The
national income statistics can be used to compare the standards of living of different
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nations by computing the per capita income of each country. Per capita income is
income per person. It is the average income of each citizen in a certain period of time
in a given country.
GNP
Per capita income =
Total population.
- The national income statistics can be used to show the performance of each sector of
the economy, to the national income, by examining the contribution of each sector to
the national income i.e. by using the national income data. We can know the
contribution of agriculture, industrial, mining sectors, etc. In this case, the government
can be in a position to determine which sector should be given priorities in assistance.
- The national income statistics shows the distribution of the national income to various
factors of production, which is from the national income data. We can know how
much each factor of production is rewarded/paid.
- The national income statistics can be used by the government to make decisions
concerning the allocation of resources for different and alternatives uses. It means that,
by knowing the national income, the government is able to make good decisions on
how to allocate its resources in different sectors of the economy. Also, the national
income statistics enable the government to estimate the revenue and expenditures in a
given financial year.
- Economic problems can easily be identified through the national income statistics.
Examples of such problems are inflation, fall in income, unemployment, etc.
- The national income can also be used to reflect the welfare of the citizens of a country.
An increase in the national income implies improvement in the welfare, especially
when there is a fair distribution of the national income.
- Estimates of the national income are very important in the formulation of a national
budget by the government, i.e. the government uses the national income statistics to
estimate its revenue and expenditures for the current year. Likewise, the government
may use the national income data to formulate national plans and policies.
Difficulties in Computing/Compiling the National Income
The following are the difficulties in calculating the national income:
Problem of data: In many countries, especially in LDC’s, it is very difficult to obtain
accurate data because researchers do not provide the correct information, lack of
trained man power, lack of modern equipment; and also due to the fact that, in LDC’S,
many activities are done in informal sectors, in which it is very difficult to obtain
official data. Therefore, in LDC’s, the information concerning the national income is
mostly estimated.
Subsistence economy: In LDC’S, the main economic activity is agriculture, but it is
performed at subsistence level. It means, peasants produce for their own consumption.
Therefore, their output is never included in computing for the national income,
because the national income statistics takes into account only goods and services which
are produced and exchanged formerly. Because of the existence of subsistence
economy in LDC’S, the national income of these countries is largely under estimated.
Illegal trade (black market): Some output that is produced in the country may be sold in
illegal markets within or outside the country. Therefore, it is very difficult to obtain
data about such output when computing the national income.
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Inflation: The rise in the general price level or inflation has the effect of increasing the
nominal value of the national income. When there is inflation in the country, prices of
goods and services are higher, so when computing the national income at market
prices (current prices), the value of the national income will be higher because it may
be exaggerated by the amount of inflation. The national income will therefore be so
high in nominal terms, but in real terms, the national income will be low. In order to
see whether the real the national income has increased or not, the nominal the national
income must be adjusted at the value of the inflation rate.
Nominal GNP
Real NI =
GNP deflator
Housewives activities: The contribution of housewives and domestic activities are
excluded from the national income figures. Also, services of household employees are
excluded in many developing countries. Many women are housewives and therefore,
their domestic services are not included in the national income accounting.
Self-employment: Sometimes people do various activities such as building houses and
repairing of machines by using their own labour. Therefore, it is very difficult to value
such activities and include them in the national income statistics.
Problem of estimating the value of depreciation: In order to get net national product we must
remove depreciation from GNP, now the problem is that it is very difficult to
distinguish new investments or machines from old investment or machines because
machines may be replaced from time to time.
Difficulties in estimating income received from abroad: Information concerning the citizens
who work abroad is very difficult to obtain, and therefore, it is very difficult to
compute accurate data concerning the income of citizens who work abroad.
Problem of double counting, triple and quadruple counting: This problem occurs when the value
of raw materials or intermediate products is counted. This results into double counting
because the value of raw materials or intermediate products is included in the value of
a final product. For example, the value of cotton is included in the value of cloth. If
the value of cotton is counted when computing the national income, it will result into
double counting because the value of cotton is included the value of cloth. Also
transfer earnings such as students’ allowances are included in the government
expenditures, but if they are counted as incomes, it may result to double counting.
Problem of goods in progress: There is difficulty in estimating the value of goods which are
still undergoing production in factories or machines.
Insufficient manpower for compiling the national income: In LDC's, there is lack of enough
manpower to compile the national income.
The Weaknesses of Using Income per Capita Statistics to Compare Standard of
Living among Countries
In principle, income per capita can be used to measure and compare the standards of
living among countries. But in practice income per capita is a weak indicator of the
standard of living, and therefore cannot be a good measure for the differences in the
living standards among countries. This is due to the following reasons:
- There are differences in the types of spending among countries: Some countries spend a larger
part of their total expenditure on welfare services, such as health and education, while
other countries spend a larger part of their income on expenditures which do not
improve the living standards of the people like buying arms.
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- Income per capita does not take into account differences in the distribution of the national income: In
some countries, especially socialist countries, the GNP's are very low but there is fair
distribution of GNP among the citizens. So the standards of living of the people is
much higher while in capitalist countries, GNP are much higher but there is uneven
distribution of the national income, which makes the standards of living of most of the
people to be low.
- The national income figures do not take into account the problem of insecurity: Some countries are
rich in terms of GNP but there is lack of peace and security. So the standard of living
of the people is very low while other countries have lower GNP'S but they are more
peaceful, which make the standards of living of the people to be relatively higher
despite the low per capita income.
- The national income figures do not take into account the differences in climate among the countries:
Differences in climate among the countries make big differences in welfare among the
countries. For example, many resources in cold countries are devoted to provide warm
houses, warm clothing, heated swimming pools, etc. All these activities are counted as
production activities, and thus are included in GNP, while in hot countries, warmth
freely available, nobody adds an extra amount to GNP, to produce warmth.
- The national income figures do not take into account the differences in the nature of consumptions:
Even in the countries with the same GNP, the standards of living may not be the
same, because people consume different commodities due to environmental and social
differences. For example, a larger number of Indians neither eat meat nor drink alcohol
for religious reasons. The French put higher priority on good food, wine and luxury
than housing as opposed to Americans who put a higher priority on good houses than
food and luxury.
- There are differences in the price structures in countries: Prices of goods and services in
different countries are different, which makes the comparison difficult. For example, in
poor countries, due to habit food stuffs, such as meat, fruits and vegetable forms a
large part of people’s expenditures, and they are sold at very low prices, while in
developed countries, food stuffs are very expensive. This means that, the total
expenditure on food stuffs in LDC’S is smaller as compared to the developed
countries. Therefore, if we use income per capita to compare the standards of living,
then standards of living of LDC’S will be lower than that of developed countries.
- Problem of data of the national income and population: In less developed countries, there are
problems of getting accurate data concerning the national income and population. The
data on them are estimated, while in developed countries, there are little problems of
getting data concerning the national income and population. Therefore, it is quite
unreasonable to compare the national income and the per capita income of developed
countries and LDC’s.
- Comparisons of the national income (per capita income) are made by using official foreign exchange
rates: When comparing the GNP of two countries, the official exchange rates are used.
However, these exchange rates do not provide the reality in terms of the actual
purchasing power of the two currencies, in the two countries under comparison, since
one currency may be weaker than the other but citizens in that country may enjoy
much higher standards of living, due to the low price of goods which are sold in that
country. For example, if we intend to compare income per capita between Tanzania
and Kenya, we will use the exchange rates of the currencies of Tanzania and Kenya.
However, this may be misleading, because of the differences in the price structure of
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the commodities between the two countries. For example, in case the exchange rate
between the two countries is 1 Ksh: 10 Tshs, it may not be possible to buy, in Kenya,
with one Kenyan shilling the same amount of goods and services, which can be bought
in Tanzania by 10 Tshs. If these goods are more expensive in Kenya than Tanzanians
will be able to buy more quantity of goods with Tshs.10, than Kenyans, with Kshs1.
- Inflation: When there is inflation in the country, the nominal the national income
become higher than in the country where there is no inflation. Therefore, when
comparing the income per capita, the country with inflation will have a higher income
per capita than the country without or with low inflation.
- Other forms of wealth: The national income statistics consider the flow of wealth created
by production around the economy, but a substantial proportion of wealth such as
houses is not in terms of money and, therefore the national income statistics do not
take into account the well being gained from them.
- Social costs and benefits are not counted: The national income is based on private costs and
benefits, while social costs, such as pollution, are not calculated. Thus, a country may
have a high the national income figure, but its citizens are poor in terms of welfare, due
to the social costs, such as pollution.
Determinants of the national income: Keynesian Approach
According to Keynes, the determinants of the national income are the aggregate demand
and supply. The national income is determined by the level of equilibrium between the
aggregate demand and supply. In order to elaborate this theory, Keynes made some
assumptions as follows:
• He assumed an economy with two sectors, which are, households and firms. The
households supply services to the firms and they receive money. Firms sell their
products to the households.
• There is no the government expenditure.
• The price of products should remain constant.
• The supply of labour and capital should be constant.
Aggregate Demand
These are the total expenditures in the society. They comprise of firms’ expenditures on
buying investment goods (I) and the consumption of goods and services by individuals(C).
C = Consumption of goods and services by individuals
I = Firms’ expenditures on buying investment goods.
Aggregate Demand (AD) = Consumption + Investment
According to Keynes: The national income (Y) = C + I = Aggregate demand
Aggregate Supply
This is the total amount of goods and services which have been produced in the country
in a given period of time. When these goods and services are sold, they provide income to
the people and are counted as the national income. Part of this income is used for
consumption, and the remaining part may be saved. Therefore, the aggregate supply or
the national income is expressed as follows:
Y=C+S
Where;
Y = aggregate supply
C = consumption
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S = saving
The equilibrium level of the national income will be as follows:
Y = C + I = Aggregate Demand
Y = C + S = Aggregate Supply
C+I=C+S
I = S = Equilibrium level of income
Equilibrium Level of Income
This is the level of income which is attained when the aggregate demand is equal to the
aggregate supply, that is, when the planned expenditures are equal to the output level, the
equilibrium level of the national income will be as follows:
Y = C + I = Aggregate Demand
Y = C + S = Aggregate Supply
C+I=C+S
I = S = Equilibrium level
The national income = Amount spent on consumers goods + Amount saved
That is, Income = Consumptions + Savings
Therefore, Savings = Income - Consumptions
Then taking the national income in real sense is the total volume of production which
comprises consumers' goods and producers' goods (real capital or investment):
The national income = the amount of consumers goods produced + the amount of
capital goods.
That is, Income = Consumptions + Investments
Therefore, Investments = Income – Consumption
Therefore, savings and investments are each equal to income, less consumptions.
They must, therefore, be equals to one another, and so,
Saving = Investment.
Aggregate supply
Expenditures Aggregate demand

Y=C+I
Q
Y1
R Deflationary gap
YE
P
Y1
Inflationary gap
O Q1 QE Q2
Output/Employment
Figure 1.2: An equilibrium level of income
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In figure 1.2 above:

- The equilibrium level of income/full employment level is at point R where the
planned expenditures (aggregate demand) is equal to the output level (aggregate
supply).
- At point P, we find that the spending level (Aggregate demand) C + I +G + X - M is
greater than the amount of output produced, i.e. inflationary gap. In this case, no
equilibrium can be achieved under these conditions, because when spending is greater
than output, business must raise up-production to meet the surplus demand, because
businesses want to supply whatever is demanded. Thus, at point P, forces are set in
motion to push output to higher levels, that is, towards point R.
- At point Q, the total output (Aggregate supply) is greater than the total expenditures
(Aggregate demand), i.e. deflationary gap. Therefore, the economy cannot remain at
this point for a very long time. This situation forces producers to cut back on output,
thereby reducing the GDP, and returning the economy to the equilibrium level of
income at point R.
- Point R is the only point at which there is stable equilibrium.
The relationship between Consumption and Incomes
The relationship between consumption and income can be shown by the consumption
function. This is the mathematical relationship between consumption and income. It is
given by the equation:
C = a + by
Where;
C = consumption
a = autonomous consumption (consumption which does not depend on income changes).
Even if there are changes in income, this consumption will be constant.
b = Is the proportionate part of the total income consumed. It expresses the rate at which
consumption changes when income also changes.
Y = This is income (disposable income).
It can be expressed graphically as shown below:
C = a + by
Aggregate
Expenditures Y2 =C+I + ∆ I
I2 Y1=C+I
I1
a
O Y1 Y2 National income
Figure 1.3: Relationship between consumption and income
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In figure 1.3 above, an increase in the aggregate expenditure i.e. C + I, lead to an increase
in the national income.
Propensity to consume
This is the proportionate part of the total or extra income used for consumption. There
are two types of propensity to consume:
Average propensity to consume (APC)
Marginal propensity to consume (MPC)
Average Propensity to Consume (APC)
This is the consumption per unit of income. OR is the ratio of consumption to income. It
can be expressed as
c a + by
APC = =
y y
Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC)

This is the additional consumption due to a unit increase of income. MPC is the slope of
the consumption function, from the consumption function C = a + by
∆c
MPC =
∆y
Derivation of MPC:
C = a + by
C + ∆ C = a + by + ∆ y
C + ∆ C = a + b (y + ∆ y)
C + ∆ C = a + by + b ∆ y
∆ C = - C + a + by + b ∆ y
∆ C = - (a + by) + a + by + b ∆ y
∆C = b∆y
∆C
b=
∆Y
∆C
MPC = b =
∆Y
The relationship between Savings and Income
The relationship between the savings and income can be shown by the saving function. This
is the mathematical relationship between income and savings. It can be derived as follows:
From the aggregate supply:
Y=C+S
Substitute a + by into C
Y = a + by + S
-S = a + by – Y
-S = a + y (1 – b)
S = -a + y – by
S = -a + y (1 – b) Saving function.
14
Propensity to Save
This is the proportionate part of the total income used for saving. There are two types of
propensities to save:
(i) Average propensity to save
(ii) Marginal propensity to save
(i) Average Propensity to Save
This is the ratio between saving and income. That is, it is the amount of saving per unit
income.
S
APS =
Y
Where;
S = Savings
Y = Income
S = -a + y (1-b)
Therefore,
−a + y(1 − b)
APS =
y
(ii) Marginal Propensity to Save

This is the additional savings per unit increase of income.
∆S
PMS =
∆Y
Derivation of MPS:
Y=C+S
Y = the national income
C = consumption
S = Savings
A change in income (-Y), will cause a change in both consumption and savings, as
indicated below:
∆Y = ∆C + ∆S
∆Y ∆C ∆S
= +
∆Y ∆Y ∆Y
∆C ∆S
I= +
∆Y ∆Y
∆C
But = MPC = b
∆Y
Therefore;
∆S
1=b+
∆Y
∆S
1–b= = MPS
∆Y
MPS = 1 - MPC
MPC = 1 - MPS
MPC + MPS = 1
15
Table 1.5: Savings, the national income, consumption, average propensity to consume, marginal propensity to
consume and marginal propensity to save
Saving (Tshs.) Income (Tshs.) Consumption (Tshs.) APC MPC MPS
-1000 5000 6000 1.2 - -
-500 10000 10500 1.05 0.9 0.1
0 15000 15000 1 0.9 0.1
500 20000 19500 0.975 0.9 0.1
1000 25000 24000 0.96 0.9 0.1
1500 30000 28500 0.95 0.9 0.1
Concept of the Multiplier

Multiplier is the rate at which the national income changes due to changes in any of the
determinants of the national income, such as investment. There are various types of
multiplier, namely, investment multiplier, the government expenditure multiplier, import
and export multiplier, etc.
Simple Investment Multiplier
This is the rate at which the national income change due to the change in investments
∆Y
It is given as
∆I
C = a + by
Consumption/
Investments Y2 =C+I + ∆ I
E2
I2 Y1=C+I
E1
I1
a
O Y1 Y2 National income
Figure: 1.4: A simple investment multiplier
In figure 2.4 above, the changes in aggregate demand can either be caused by changes in
consumption function or changes in investments function. When investments
expenditures change from I1 to I2, it will cause a change in aggregate demand from Y = C
+ I to Y = C + I + ∆I . Due to this change, the equilibrium point will change from E1 to
E2. A simple investment multiplier can, therefore, be derived as follows:
∆Y = Y2 – Y1
∆I = I2 – I1
Y=C+I
Where C = a + by
Therefore, Y1 = a + by + I
Collect like terms
Y - by = a + I
16
Factorize
Y (1 - b) = a + I
Divide both sides by 1 - b
a+I
Y1 =
1− b
Equation (1)
Y2 = C + I + ∆I
Where;
C = a + by2
Therefore,
Y2 = a + by2 + I + ∆I
Collect like terms
Y2 - bY2 = a + I + ∆I
Factorise Y terms
Y2 (1 - b) = a + I + ∆I
a + I + ∆I
Y2 =
1− b
Equation (2)
But ∆Y = Y2 – Y1
a + I + ∆I a+i
∆Y = -
1− b 1− b
a + I + ∆I − a + I
∆Y =
1− b
∆I
∆y =
1− b
Divide both sides by ∆I
∆Y ∆I
= ÷ ∆I
∆I 1 − b
∆Y I
= = multiplier, multiplier is denoted by “k” and b is the Marginal propensity to
∆I 1 − b
consume (MPC), therefore;
1 1
Multiplier (k) = Or
1 − MPC MPS
Example 1
Given that the marginal propensity to consume is 0.2, find investment multiplier.
1 1 1
Solution, multiplier = = = =1.25
1 − MPC 1 − 0 .2 0 .8
Example 2
Given that the marginal propensity to save is 0.5, find the multiplier.
1 1
Solution, Multiplier = = =2
MPS 0 .5
Example 3
Effect of the change in investments on income: Given that the national income of country
X is $10 million in year Y, the marginal propensity to consume is 0.6 and the level of
17
consumption is $4 million. Calculate the effect on income due to a planned investment of

$5 million
Solution
Investment multiplier is given by:
∆Y 1 1
K= = =
∆I 1 − b 1 − MPC
∆Y 1
k= =
∆I 1 − MPC
1
k= , since MPC = 0.6
1 − MPC
1
k=
1 − 0 .6
1
k= = 2.5
0 .4
∆Y
Since k =
∆I
∆Y
2.5 =
5
2.5(5) = $12.5 million
Therefore, when investments are increased by $5 million, the level of income will be
changed by $2.5 million to get a new income of $12.5 million.
How a Multiplier Operates

When investments are made, they cause changes in income. Suppose X invests Tshs.100
million in the construction of a house, the money will be used to buy the building
materials and to pay building contractors. The receivers of that income it means the
suppliers of building materials and the workers will also use part of the income for
consumption and the remaining will be savings. Assuming that MPC is 60 percent or 53 of
the total income, their total spending will be Tshs. 60 million. Therefore, 60 million will be
received as income to those who will sell goods and services to the construction workers
and the suppliers of building materials.
Assuming that the MPC of those who supply goods and services is again 53 or 60%,
then their total spending will be 36 million. This process will continue but come to a halt
when additions to savings total to 100 million. This is because the change in savings is
now equal to the original change in investment and, therefore, the economy is returned to
equilibrium, because the savings, S, once again is equal to Investment, I, i.e. S = I. At this
point, the additions to income total Tshs. 250 million, thus Tshs. 100 million extra
investments has created a Tshs. 250 rise in income. Therefore, in this case, the value of
the multiplier is 2.5. Table 1.6 below, gives a summary of the operation of the multiplier.
18
Table 1.6: Operation of the multiplier

Rounds of spending Increase in income Cumulative increase in
(Tshs. million) income in millions
1 100.00 100
2 60.00 160
3 36.00 196
4 21.60 217
5 12.90 230
6 7.80 238
7 4.68 243
8 2.80 245.04
9 1.08 247.12
10 1.008 249
Cumulative increase in income can be calculated by using

G1
Formula, =
1− r
Where G1 = initial amount of investment
r = MPC
In the example above, where the initial investment is Tshs. 100 million, the total increase
100 100
in income is equal to = = Tshs. 250 million.
1 − 0 .6 0 .4
The relationship between Multiplier (K) with MPC and MPS
(i) The relationship between Multiplier and MPC
• When MPC increases multiplier also increases.
• When MPC decreases multiplier also decreases.
Therefore, MPC and multiplier are directly proportional. For example, to find the
multiplier given the following:
• MPC = 0.2
Solution
1 1 1
K= = = = 1.25
1 − MPC 1 − 02 0 .8
• When MPC = 0.5

Solution
1 1 1 10 10
K= = = × = =2
1 − MPS 1 − 0 .5 0 .5 10 5
(ii) The relationship between Multiplier and MPS
• When MPS increase multiplier decreases.
• When MPS decreases multiplier increase.
Therefore, MPS and multiplier are inversely proportional.
For example, if MPS = 0.2, find multiplier.
19
Solution
1 1
K= = =5
MPS 0 .2
Multiplier = 5
(ii) When MPS = 0.5
Solution
1 1 10
K= = = =2
MPS 0.5 5
Multiplier = 2
Assumptions of the Multiplier
Multiplier has the following assumptions:
• Multiplier assumes that all the extra income is used for consumption. If it is used to
pay previous debts, it may cause a leakage in the multiplier process.
• Multiplier assumes that, there is no scarcity of goods and services. If there is scarcity,
the extra income cannot be used to purchase goods and services.
• Multiplier also assumes that the economy is operating below full employment. If the
economy would have been at full employment, there would be no resources available
to produce extra goods and services so as to meet the extra demand for goods and
services.
Limitation of Multiplier in LDCs
In less developed countries (LDCs), multiplier is less effective because of the following
reasons:
- Lack of well established capital industries: As a result, any investment established must
involve the purchase of capital goods, such as machines from developed countries.
The importation of capital goods from abroad causes a leakage (withdraw) to the
multiplier. Multiplier assumes that there is no leakage, because leakage causes outflow
of income abroad.
- Lack of entrepreneur abilities: In LDCs, there is lack of entrepreneurship abilities.
Therefore, any investment must involve the importation of experts from abroad. This
also causes a leakage to the multiplier because it involves outflow of income abroad.
- Poor productivity due to low level of technology: The output produced in LDCs is very low. As
a result, LDCs are forced to import goods and services from abroad, which also cause
a leakage to the multiplier because it involves income outflow.
- Poor infrastructure: In LDCs, there is poor means of transport and communication.
Therefore, it is cheaper sometimes to import goods and services from abroad than to
buy then within the country where transport and communication are very poor. The
importation of goods and services, in turn, result into the leakage of the multiplier
process.
- In LDCs, workers are paid very low wages: Therefore, in order to meet their daily
transactions of buying goods and services, they have to borrow money. Therefore,
when they get income, they use the income to settle previous debts instead of buying
other goods and services. So this causes a leakage to the multiplier.
Investment
Investment is the additional stock to the existing stock of capital.
20
Gross Investment
This is the total purchase of productive assets per unit time, say a year. It can be zero or
positive. Investment is said to be zero when there is no purchase of new productive
assets. It is said to be positive when the worn out assets are being replaced.
Net Investment
This is the difference between the gross investment and depreciation.
Net investment = Gross investment – Depreciation.
Determinants of Investments
Investment can be determined by the following factors:
Cost of investment: Large cost of investment deters investments while low cost of
investment encourages more investments.
Availability of infrastructure: Infrastructure, such as roads, electricity and railways,
provides conducive environment for the growth of investments, while the absence or
poor infrastructure limits the growth of investments.
Market rate of interest: Large interest rates discourage investors from borrowing money
for investment, while lower rates of interest encourage borrowing for investment.
Expected returns from investment: If investors expect to generate large profits from certain
investments, they will invest more on such investments.
Legal protections: If the government provides legal protections to investors, the investors
will be encouraged to increase investments, unlike when there are no legal protections
Expectations: When investors expect a boom to occur, they will increase investments
but reduce investments, when they expect a recession to occur.
Level of consumption (purchasing power of the people): Large consumption capacity of the
population encourages more investments than low consumption capacity.
Size of the market: The larger the size of the market, the larger the rate of investments,
while the smaller the size of the market, the smaller the rate of investments.
The government policy and actions: The growth of investments depends upon good the
government’s economic policies which facilitate investments, and the way the
government creates a conducive environment for the growth of investments.
Acceleration Principle
According to Keynes, the factors which influence investments are marginal efficiency of
capital that is the profitability of investment and the rate of interest. According to the
accelerator principle, there is another factor, which can affect investment; the output level.
When output or income increases, it stimulates more investments. The principle states
that, “there is a direct proportional relationship between the stock of capital and the
output level”. This means that, when output level changes the stock of capital also
changes by the same proportion. Therefore, the following occurs:
• When output increases, it leads to an increase in the stock of capital
• When output decreases, it leads to a decrease in stock of capital.
Note
Increase in stock of capital is investment.
Decrease in stock of capital is decrease in investment.
21
Therefore, investment is caused by the increase in output level. The accelerator theory
stems from the simple and mechanical assumption that “firms wish to keep a relatively
fixed between the output they are currently producing and their existing stock of fixed
capital assets”. This ratio is called capital-output ratio. For example, a capital output ratio
of 4:1, or simply 4, means that, at constant prices, Tshs. 4 of capital is required to produce
Tshs.1 of output.
Assumptions of the Principle
Acceleration principle assumes the followings:
(i) Firms produce at the least cost with a combination of inputs.
(ii) There are no credit constraints; funds for credits are readily available.
(iii) All the output produced are demanded, i.e. there is no excess output.
In the accelerator theory, the level of the current net investment, in fixed capital depends
on the changes in income or output in the previous year.
• The larger the change in output or income in the previous year, the larger the change
in investment in the current year.
• The smaller the change in output or income in the previous year, the smaller the
change in net investment in the current year.
I = v ( ∆Y )
∆Y = Yt – Yt - 1
Or
It = v(Yt – Yt - 1)
Where;
It = Net investment in the current year
Yt = The national income in the current year.
Yt-1 = The national income of the previous year.
V= Is the capital output ratio, or the accelerator coefficient, or simply the accelerator.
Gross investment equals net investment plus any replacement investment to make good
capital that was worn out in the course of production in the previous year.
Gross investments in the current year =V(Yt – Yt - 1) + replacement of investments
Table 1.7: Net investment - Example given that capital output ratio is 4.
Year t V(current income-previous year Net investment
income)Tshs. in millions
2002 4(100 m – 90 m) 40 m
2003 4(110 m – 100 m) 40 m
2004 4(130 m –110 m) 80 m
2005 4(140 m - 130 m) 40 m
In table 1.7 above, the national income grows in both years, between 2001(which is year t-
1 in row 1) and 2002, we have assumed that income grows by Tshs.10 million, via the
capital output 4. This growth of income of Tshs. 10 million induces net investment of
Tshs. 40 million. This level of investment is required to increase the capital stock so that
the desired capital output ratio can be maintained at the current higher level of income.
In the second row, income continues to grow in 2003 by the same absolute amount,
ths10million, thereby inducing a constant level of investment (compared to 2002) of Tshs.
40 million. But in 2004, in row 3, the growth of income speeds up or accelerates-from an
22
absolute rise of Tshs. 10 million to Tshs. 20 million. The level of investment doubles. The
size of capital stock required to maintain the capital output ratio is Tshs. 80 million larger
in 2004 than in 2003. Finally, we have assumed, in row 4 that, the growth of income falls
back again to Tshs. 10 million in 2005. Although income is still growing, net investment
now declines back to its previous level of Tshs. 40 million.
This example shows how the accelerator theory derived its name. It is the rate of
growth of income and output rather than the fact that output is growing, that determines
whether investment is growing, falling, or at a constant level. Accordingly, therefore:
- If income grows by a constant amount each year, net investment is also constant.
- If the rate of growth of income speeds up or accelerates, net investment increases;
and if the rate of growth of income slows down or decelerates, net investment
declines. Thus, relatively slight changes in the rate of growth of income or output can
cause quite large absolute rises and fall in investment as firms adjust their capital
stocks to the required level.
Weaknesses of the accelerator theory
Investment is induced more by profits rather than the level of output, when profits
increase; it provides incentives to business people to invest more.
It assumes that resources are always available, so that increase in consumption would
automatically lead to an increase investments.
Relationship between the Multiplier and the Acceleration Principle
Multiplier and accelerator principle work together to influence employment and income, a
change in investments cause a change in income and employment through the multiplier
process, a change in income induce more investments through the accelerator principle.
How Multiplier and Accelerator Can Lead to Unemployment?
Multiplier and accelerator can lead to unemployment in the following ways:
- Multiplier depends on the size of the marginal propensity to consume (MPC). When
marginal propensity to consume is large; it will cause a large increase in investments
which will lead to an increase in income through a multiplier process. An increase in
income will induce more investments and create more employment through the
accelerator process. If the marginal propensity to consume is small, the size of the
multiplier will also be small as well as induced investments. This will cause a fall in the
national income and, consequently, les investments hence, unemployment.
- Multiplier effect may lead to an increase in output, hence more employment in a
certain industry but to less output and to unemployment in another industry. For
example, an increase in the government expenditures in the construction industry will
lead to more income in the sector through the multiplier process and induce more
investments through the accelerator process. This will increase employment
opportunities in the sector and attract more labour, which will join the construction
industry. Such the mobility of labour will cause shortages of labour in other industries
and thus, a fall in output. This discourages investments and therefore, leads to
unemployment.
- Multiplier can also cause unemployment when the economy has reached its full
employment level, where aggregate supply (total output) is equal to aggregate demand
(total expenditures). At this level, the levels of profits and the marginal propensity to
23
consume are high. This may cause over investments and so inflation, in which the
demand for labour will be greater than the supply of labour, hence unemployment.
Spending Aggregate supply

(C+I+G+(X-M) Aggregate demand
Y= C + I + G + X-M
Y1 C
B
YE
Yo
A
O Q0 Q Q Output (GDP)
E 1
Figure 1.5: Relationship between multiplier and accelerator
In figure 1.5 above,
• The aggregate supply and aggregate demand are at equilibrium level at point B, the
value of output (GDP) is equal to the value of the total spending by firms (I),
individuals (C), The government (G), Export (X) and imports (M).
• Point B is also the full employment level. At this level, all workers who need
employment, at the current wage rates have it, money income, output and employment
will no longer increase in proportion; the supply of labour will eventually become
completely inelastic, and so will be the output. Therefore, any increase in aggregate
demand met with completely inelastic supply of output, will result in higher prices
(inflation), which will make workers to demand for higher wages, and therefore, to
entrepreneurs to demand less workers. A decrease in the demand for labour will lead
to unemployment.
The Concept of Induced Investments and Autonomous Investment
Through the multiplier process, a primary increase in spending, such as additional
consumption or investment produce some further rounds of secondary spending.
Through this secondary spending, further tertiary spending with its effects may occur on
investments.
Businessmen will need additional capital goods (investments) to expand their
productive capacity to match with the increased demand for capital goods. Such increase
in the demand for capital goods due to increase in demand for final goods are referred to
as Induced investment. This is, therefore, caused by endogenous factors i.e. factors which are
within the national income determination model such as consumption, the government
spending and investment. If any of these factors change, they influence increase in the
national income through the multiplier effect, and induce more investment through the
accelerator principle.
Autonomous investment, on the other hand, is caused by exogenous variables, i.e.
variables which are not within the national income model, such as changes in technology.
Autonomous investment has no relationship with the accelerator. For example, if there is
24
a new invention in television production, firms would go ahead and invest in such
development, but this new investments have no link with the previous changes in the
income of these firms.
Relationship between the Rate of Interest and Investment
Interest rate is the cost of borrowing. If the rate of interest is high, borrowing is
discouraged, and if the rate of interest is low borrowing is encouraged. However, this
relationship is determined by the Marginal efficiency of capital, which does show the
relationship between the desired stocks of capital to the rate of return (yield), that
additional unit of capital will produce. Return is related to the rate of interest. Suppose,
for example, that a capital project were to yield 10%, while the rate of interest were 12%,
investors would not be interested in it. However, if interest were to fall to 8%, investors
might wish to invest. The capital stock they desire would have increased.
Rate of interest
R2
R1
Marginal efficiency of capital

O C1 C2 Desired stock of capital
Figure 1.6: Relationships between the Rate of Interest and Investment

In figure 1.6 above, the higher the rate of interest R2, the lower the desire for capital
goods at C1. At a lower rate of interest, R1, the desire for capital goods is higher at C2;
implying that investors are more willing to invest at a lower rate of interest than at a
higher rate.
Present Value (PV)
The present value of future payments or a series of payments represents the amount
received today that is equivalent in value to the future payment or payments.
Example 1
For instance, if the discount rate is 10% per annum, the present value of this year of Tshs.
1100 if earned next year is Tshs. 1000. This is equivalent to Tshs.1100 next year because
Tshs.1000 invested at going market interest rate of 10% yields Tshs. 1100 next year. If
there are financial flows over a number of years, the discounted sums are additive and can
be found by the formula:
Present value;
= X + X 2 + X 3 + Xn
(1 − r ) (1 − r )2 (1 − r ) 2 (1 − r ) n
Where:
X = Future value
R = Interest rate
25
In the example above;

The present value in year 1:
1100 1100 1100
= X1 = = = =1000
(1 + r ) 1 + 10 % 1 + 0 . 1 1 .1
The present value in year 2
1100 1100 1100
= X 1 + X 2 2 = 1100 + 1100 2 = 1100 + 2= + =1000 + 500
(1 + r ) (1 + r ) 1 + 10% (1 + 0.1) 1.1 (1.1) 1.1 2 .2
= 1500 this value is to be added to the present value of year 1 to get the present value of
year 2, it will therefore be equal to 1000 + 500 = 1500
Example 2
Suppose a machine with a known life of only two years is expected to yield $ 242 each
year. The machines’ present cost is $400, and the rate of interest is 10%. Is the investment
profitable?
242 242 242 242
Present value= +
2
= + = 420
1 + 0.1 (1 + 01) 1.1 1.21
Present value = 420, present cost = 400. Since the present value is greater than the
present cost, investment is profitable.
Income inequalities
Income inequalities refers to the differences in incomes or wealth among the people,
which makes some to be classified high income earners and others, classified as low
income earners.
Forms of Income Inequalities
Income inequalities can be in the following forms:
(a) Regional Inequalities: These are the type of income inequalities existing among or
between regions of a particular country. The causes may be the differences of natural
endowment in resources, uneven distribution of infrastructures and centralization of
investments. For example, in Tanzania, some regions such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha
and Mwanza are far ahead in terms of income compared to other regions, such as
Lindi, Mtwara and Kigoma, due to the above reasons.
(b) Sectoral Inequalities: These are the differences in income which exist between or among
sectors of the economy. For example, in Tanzania, people who work in the mining
and other industrial sectors have higher income than those who work in the
agricultural sector.
(c) Intra-Sectoral Inequalities: These are the income inequalities which exist within one
sector of the economy or society. For example, within the agricultural sector, there is
income inequalities between modern agricultural sector and a traditional or
subsistence agricultural sector.
(d) Rural-Urban Inequalities: These are the inequalities which exist between the rural and
urban areas. Urban areas have higher income and wealth than the rural areas due to
the presence of various kinds of investments such as industries, good infrastructure
and trade.
26
(e) Individuals Inequalities: These are the income inequalities which exist among individuals
in the society. Such inequalities exists due to reasons such as private ownership of the
major means of production, luck and opportunities, differences in talents and
differences in levels of education.
Causes of Income inequalities
Income inequalities is brought about by the following factors:
(i) Inheritance: Some people are born in rich families and others are born in poor
families. Those who are born in rich families may inherit wealth from their parents
and become rich, while those who are born in poor families have nothing to inherit
from their parents, hence they remain poor.
(ii) Differences in natural abilities: Different people have different mental and physical
abilities. These differences cause differences in wealth among the people. For
example, talented footballers, musicians, bright individuals, etc, have a better chance
to be rich than those who do not have such talents and have no means of generating
income or wealth.
(iii) Differences in wages: Wages differs from one occupation to another. Therefore, workers
who work in occupations which pay higher wages become richer as compared to
those who work in the occupations which pay low wages.
(iv) Luck and opportunities: Some people may become rich through mere luck, such as
winning games of chance such as the lottery.
(v) Private ownership of the major means of production: In the society where, there is private
ownership of the major means of production, those who own the major means of
production become more rich than those who do not own the major means of
production.
(vi) Social evils: Some people, in the society, get wealth through illegal means like
smuggling, selling drugs, theft and corruption.
(vii) Education level: More skilled labour earns higher wages than unskilled labour.
(viii) Uneven income distribution: If the distribution of income and wealth in the society is
uneven, some group of people will become richer than other groups of people.
(x) Tax structure: When regressive tax system is used, it tends to affect the poor more
than the rich, therefore, results in income inequalities.
(xi) Favouritism: In some countries, politicians tend to favour their respective
areas/regions of origin by allocating more funds to such areas or by giving
employment to their fellow tribes men. This leads to income inequalities among
individuals and regions.
Advantages of Income inequalities
Income inequalities is necessary at early levels because of several factors as follows:
• It promotes individual initiative and hard work in a bid to enable the poor to improve
their living standards.
• Income inequalities tend to improve labour relations, i.e. employer-employee
relationship, so as to promote a conducive atmosphere for individual production,
among the poor employees.
• Mobility of labour is encouraged, i.e. geographical and occupational, in an endeavour
to raise income levels of the poor workers.
• It stimulates the government’s effort to adopt policy programmes aimed at alleviating
poverty in the society.
27
• Income inequalities encourage progressive taxation of the rich by the government,

which consequently enhances the provision of services for the poor.
• Harmony and respect in the society is also promoted by income inequalities. The poor
tend to respect the rich.
• An income inequality is a source of cheap labour, which is provided by the poor.
• Income inequalities results into social balance and stability among individuals. Since
inequalities are caused by natural abilities, people’s incomes can never be the same.
• It stimulates effort among the poor members of the society so as to catch up with the
rich.
• The poor people, who tend to consume rather than save, give chance to the rich who
tend to save more to invest and accumulate capital. This leads to increase the
investments in the economy.
Disadvantages/Demerits of Income Inequalities
Income inequalities has the following disadvantages:
- Income inequalities result into political instabilities, which might be incited by the poor
majority.
- Poverty, especially in the rural areas, could lead to rural to urban migration, in a bid to
seek for employment opportunities and better economic welfare.
- Inequalities in income distribution retard efficiency of human efforts among the poor,
since they tend to become frustrated.
- The poor are often disguised and denied social justice and equality. They may not
afford the basic necessities of life like shelter, food, education, clothing, etc.
- Poor income distribution discourages production investments to meet the needs of the
poor, since the poor tend to "cast fewer votes" due to their low purchasing power.
- Income inequalities may lead to brain-drain, especially in developing nations, since the
educated people from LDCs tend to migrate to developed countries in search of
“greener pastures". This will create a manpower gap in LDCs.
- It promotes undesirable behaviours like theft, crime, prostitution, and corruption
among the poor, so as to survive.
- It leads to exploitation and domination of the poor by the rich. The rich will become
richer as the poor remain poor and even made poorer and miserable.
- Income inequalities create social tension and conflicts between the poor and the rich.
This may lead to disharmony between these social classes and among regions.
- Widespread poverty tends to lead to a psychological discouragement to work hard.
Confidence, self-esteem and respect are lost among the poor. This can be detrimental
to the contribution of human resource to the national development.
- Income inequalities may result into regional, inter and intra-sectoral dualism in the
country an equal establishment.
- It encourages the inflow of foreigners, who may not have interests in the domestic
economy. This will lead to excessive capital flight/capital outflow in form of profit
repatriation.
- The government revenue from taxation is likely to decline, if the majority of the
people are poor.
- Decline in aggregate demand: Where the majority are poor, aggregate demand is likely
to be low. This affects production and employment levels in the economy.
- Poor distribution of income retards economic growth and development.
28
Measures of Reducing Income Inequalities

Income inequalities can be reduced by using the following measures:
Progressive tax: This is a system of tax in which the rich are taxed more than the poor
.This help to reduce the income gap between the rich and the poor.
Minimum wage legislation: In order to reduce income inequalities, the government
provides, by the law, for every employer to pay a minimum wage. Employees are paid
salaries or wages not less than the minimum stated by the government in its annual
budget.
Equal opportunities: In this measure, the government provides equal opportunities for all
citizens in all the regions, for adequate and affordable social services such as education.
Subsidies and transfer payments: The government can provide subsidies to the poor in
terms of inputs such as fertilizers to peasants, allowances to students from poor
families, and subsidies to industries which produce essential goods that are consumed
by the majority.
Micro-financing: These are small scale credits that are provided to the poor groups in the
society to enable them establish small scale businesses that can support them and their
families.
Price control and stabilization: The government should make sure that the prices of goods
produced by the poor people, such as peasants and small traders, remain stable to
avoid further decline in the income of these groups.
Mass employment: This can be encouraged through labour intensive techniques of
production so that the majority of the population become able to earn income.
Decentralization of industries: The government can reduce income inequalities by
establishing infrastructure in all regions of the country in order to encourage of
investments in all the regions within the country.
Control ownership of the major means of production: The government can control ownership
of the major means of production to ensure that the majority of the people in the
country have access to the major means of production such as land.
Methods of Showing Income Inequalities
Income inequalities in the society can be shown by using the Lorenz Curve.
The Lorenz Curve is a locus of points which shows cumulative percentage of population
and cumulative percentage of income or wealth. The Lorenz curve gives a visual
expression of how equal or uneven income distribution is:
- When the income is equally distributed, it is shown by a diagonal line, known as the line
of perfect equality
- An income inequality is shown by a convex curve drawn, to the right from the line of
perfect equality.
- The closer the curve to the line of perfect equality, the lower the income inequalities.
- When the Lorenz curve is far from the line of perfect equality, it shows a higher
income inequality.
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Table 1.8: Income distribution in 1929 and 1979

Quantity of 1929 1979
households Share of Cumulative% Share of income in $ Cumulative%
income in $ of income in $ of income in $
Lowest fifth 3.9 3.9 5.3 5.3
Second fifth 8.6 12.5 11.6 16.9
Third fifth 13.8 26.3 17.5 34.4
Four fifth 19.3 45.6 24.1 58.5
Highest fifth 54.4 100 41.5 100.00
The Lorenz curve from the above data can be drawn as follows:
100
Cumulative % Income
Perfect equality line

80
Curve 1 1979
60
Curve 2 1929
40
20
20 40 60 80 100
Cumulative % of population
Figure 1.7: Lorenz curves for 1979 and 1929

Curve 1 shows a smaller income inequality than curve 2, because it is closer to the line of
perfect equality. This implies that, an in1929, income inequality was higher than in 1979.
Review Questions
1 (a) What is the National Income?

(b) Describe three methods of calculating the national income
2. Explain the problems of calculating the national income.
3. What are the weaknesses of using income per capita when comparing the living
standards of the people in different countries?
4. Given the following data:
Gross national product at market price = 20 million
Income from abroad = 4 million
Gross domestic product at factor cost =10 million
Net indirect tax = 2 million
Indirect tax = 1.5 million
Net national product at market price = 15 million
Find the following
(i) Depreciation
(ii) Net factor income from abroad
(iii) Subsidies
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5. Differentiate between the Gross National Product at market price and the Gross
National Product at factor cost.
6. What are the causes of income inequalities?
7. (a) Derive a simple investment multiplier.
(b) Given the followings:
(i) Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC) = 0.5
(ii) Marginal Propensity to Save (MPS) = 0.4
Find the multiplier.
8. By using a numerical example, show how a multiplier operates.
9. What are the limitations of multiplier in Africa?
10. Discuss how the multiplier interacts with the accelerator to increase the size of the
national income.
11. Given the following information:
The national income of country X = $ 20 million
Consumption = $ 6 million
Marginal Propensity to Consume = 0.6
Calculate the effect on the national income, if investment is increased by $ 5 million.
12. Given the following income distribution:
YEAR 1929 1979
Quantity of Share of Cumulative Share of Cumulative %
household income % of income income of income
Lowest fifth 3.9 m - 5.3 -
Second fifth 8.6 m - 11.6 -
Third fifth 13.8 m - 17.5 -
Fourth fifth 19.3 m - 24.1 -
Highest fifth 54.4 m - 41.5 -
Draw the Lorenz Curve for the year 1929 and 1979, and interpret your observations.
13. Discuss the concepts voluntary and involuntary unemployment.
14. What is under-employment and over-employment?
31
CHAPTER TWO
PUBLIC FINANCE
Public finance is part of economics policy which is concerned with the way the
government obtains revenue and spends it, so as to improve and promote the economic
and social welfare of the citizens.
The Need and Role of the Public Finance
Public finance has the following roles:
• The governments need to finance certain public utilities i.e. public services such as,
security, power, education, etc. This requires money which has to be raised through
public finance.
• Through public spending, the government can redistribute income and wealth more
evenly.
• The government has to participate and effectively contribute to the production,
marketing and distribution of goods and services. This can only be successful through
the required capital which is raised from public finance.
• The productive infrastructure such as roads, railways, communication systems, etc,
must be properly maintained. Public finance should provide sufficient funds to
maintain and develop the necessary infrastructure.
• Public finance enables the government to establish and run risky projects that require
large capital, e.g. Civil Aviation.
• Mobility of labour is quite important. Public finance, through wage policies, enables
the government to distribute the available labour force, so as to increase efficiency.
• Research units. The government, through public finance, is able to establish research
units.
• Public finance is important in the process of economic developments, because it is a
supplement to the limited private capital.
• The private sectors enterprises need to be correctly directed. Public finance enables the
government to influence and guide the level and direction of the private sectors
economic activities.
• In the absence of privatization and liberalization programmes, public finance sets up
the state enterprises, supplies funds for improvement, modernization and expansion of
various productive projects in the economy.
• Domestic resource exploitation. Public finance enables the government to exploit
domestic natural resources e.g. fisheries, minerals, forests, etc, which might otherwise
be idle.
Functions of the government
The government performs various functions which necessitates it to have funds. These
functions are as follows:
(a) Administrative Functions: This is the day-to-day activities running of the government
through established structures in the civil service.
32
(b) Protection Functions: In this function, the government needs funds to maintain peace
and security.
(c) Social Functions: In this function, the government needs funds to provide the
population with social services such as education and health.
(d) Development Functions: In this function, the government needs funds to finance various
development projects such as roads, railways, research, irrigation, electricity and other
infrastructural needs.
Objectives of the Government
The objective of the government is to achieve the following:
(i) To create full employment: In this objective, the government makes sure that all
resources, including human and non-human resources, are fully employed.
(ii) Control of inflation: Inflation has adverse effects to the economy. Therefore, it is the
responsibility of the government to put it under control.
(iii) To achieve economic growth: The government must ensure that the economy grows at the
desired rate.
(iv) To raise the living standard: The government must ensure that the standards of living of
its citizens are improved.
(v) To have a balance of payment: The government must ensure that its balance of payments
is neither in deficit nor in surpluses, because both have negative effects to the
economy.
(vi) To achieve social and political stability: The government must ensure that law and order is
maintained in the country.
Divisions of Public Finance
Public finance is divided into four dominions, namely:
• The government revenues
• The government expenditures
• National budget
• Public debts
The government Revenues
This refers to the revenues that are received by the government from various sources to
meet expenditures.
Sources of the Government Revenues
The government collects money from internal and external sources.
1. Internal Sources
The following are internal sources of the government revenues:
(a) Tax: A tax is a compulsory payment by individuals and firms to the government.
(b) Fees: These are payments made by the users of public services to the government like
cost sharing in health and education.
(c) Fines: These are penalties imposed by the government against law breakers.
(d) Borrowing: The government can borrow money from banks or the public by selling
sureties.
(e) Profit: The government can get revenues from profit realized from the public
enterprises.
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(f) Selling of Public Enterprises: The government gets revenues by selling or privatizing
public enterprises and firms.
2. External Sources
(a) Borrowing from international financial institutions and donor countries
(b) Grants and gifts
(c) Foreign investments
Principles or Canons of a Good Tax
• Equity: A good tax must be equitable or fair, that is the amount of tax must be
proportional to the level of income. People with higher income must be taxed higher
amounts than people with lower incomes, i.e. pay as you earn (PAYE).
• Convenience: The methods of tax collection must be convenient to both the tax payers
and tax collectors.
• Certainty: The tax payers must be aware of exactly how much to pay, and the tax
collectors, likewise, must also know how much to collect.
• Economy: The cost of collecting tax should be relatively low, and the government
should receive all the income collected.
• Productive efficiency: A good tax should stimulate the establishment of resources and must
not discourage allocation of resources.
• Difficult of evasion: A good tax must be difficult to evade by the tax payers.
Systems of taxation
These are organized methods through which tax is levied. There are three systems of
taxation:
- Progressive tax system
- Proportional tax system
- Regressive tax system
- Progressive Tax System: This is a system of taxation in which the amount of tax depends
on the level of income (PAYE) i.e. the amount of tax levied is proportional to the level
of income increase. This system is very useful in reducing income inequalities among
income earners.
%Tax
20%
10%
O Y1 Y2 Income
Figure 2.1: Progressive tax system
In figure 6: 1 above, at a lower income, Y1, the amount of tax is 10%. At a higher
income, Y2, the percentage of tax is 20.
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- Proportional Tax System: This is a system of tax in which the percentage of tax is the
same for all the levels of incomes. For example, when a person who earns Tshs. 20000
per month pays 10% of the income as tax, and a person who earns Tshs.30000 per
month also pays 10% of the income as tax.
%Tax
10%
O 20000 30000 Income

Figure: 2.2: Proportional tax system
In figure 2.2 above, income levels of 20000/= and 30000/= are charged the same 10%
of the income as tax.
- Regressive tax system: This is a system of tax in which the percentage of tax levied varies
inversely with the tax payer's income. The higher the income, the lower the proportion
of the income is paid as tax and the lower the income, the higher the proportion of the
income is paid as tax. This kind of tax applies when indirect tax is imposed on goods
and services which are consumed by both the high income earners and the low income
earners. When the poor person purchases a commodity, the amount of indirect tax
she/he pays is the same as that that paid by a rich person. In this case, the tax paid is
said to be regressive, because the poor person pays a larger proportion of his/her
income than the rich person.
%Tax
20%
10%
O Y1 Y2 Income
Figure: 2.3: Regressive tax system
In figure 2.3 above, a higher percentage of tax, 20%, is imposed to a lower income level,
Y1, and a lower percentage of tax, 10%, is imposed to a higher level of income Y2.
Why is Regressive Tax Justified?

Regressive tax is justified on the following grounds:
The low income earners are the main consumers of the public goods which are
provided by the government, since most of the rich people consume private services.
35
The rich people are the investors; therefore, they have bigger contribution to the
national economy than the poor people.
Types of Taxes
There are two main types of tax
A. Direct tax and
B. Indirect tax.
A: Direct tax
This is a type of tax which is imposed on people's income. The following are the examples
of direct taxes are:
(i) Graduated Tax: This is the tax which is levied on one's income, mostly for the
employed income earners, on wages or salaries.
(ii) Pay as You Earn Tax: This is paid by means of directly deducting from one's salary, by
the employer, who regularly sends the collection to the tax authority.
(iii) Corporation Taxes: These are taxes imposed by the government and paid by the
companies with respect to profits, turnover or percentage of total sales.
(iv) Property Tax: A property tax is assessed by the local authorities on property, such as
house, land, etc.
(v) Estate or Death Duty: This is assessed on the wealth of person at the time of death.
(vi) Surtax: This is payable by the rich people in the society .It is usually assessed for those
who earn beyond a certain level of income. It is paid on top of the graduated tax.
(v) Capital Gain Tax: This occurs when the value of capital asset increases, especially
when the asset is being sold .It is imposed on assets which have appreciated.
Advantages of direct tax
Direct tax has several advantages over indirect tax:
• It is easy to tell in advance the amount to be paid and collected as tax from individuals
and firms, because it is deducted directly from their income.
• This type of tax is very helpful in reducing the income gap between the rich and the
poor people, since it applies the pay as you earn rule (PAYE).
• Direct tax is also helpful in controlling the demand pull inflation, since when direct tax
is imposed, the disposable income of the income earners decline, which leads to a
decrease in their purchasing power, hence control of demand-pull inflation
• Economical in collection. This type of tax is economical to collect in the sense that the
cost of collection is proportionally low compared to the revenues collected.
Disadvantages of Direct Tax
- High direct tax can discourage people from working hard. This type of tax can
discourage people from working hard, because people will have the feeling that, if they
work hard and earn more income, they are liable to pay more tax.
- This type of tax discourages savings, because it reduces the disposable income of the
income earners. Decrease in savings may discourage investments and economic
growth.
- It discourages investments in case it is imposed on profits which results from
investments. Investors are discouraged, in this case, because they are aware that the
profit they earn would be taxed.
36
- This type of tax can result into tax evasion (tax avoidance). This happens when tax
payers hide some information about their income.
- Direct tax is discriminatory in nature since it is paid by few people in the society; only
those who earn income from formal sectors.
- Direct tax has high incidences of tax, that is, the burden of direct tax falls wholly to the
tax payer.
- Reduce the disposable income of the income earners, thus reducing their purchasing
power.
- Easy to avoid since people might under state their income.
B: Indirect Taxes
It is a type of tax which is imposed on goods and services. Examples of indirect tax are:
(i) Custom duties: These are taxes collected at the borders or port, by customs duties
officials.
(ii) Octoroi Tax: It is a tax imposed on goods which are on transit through the territory of
another country.
(iii) Sumptuary Tax: It is a tax imposed on the consumption of certain commodities in
order to discourage their consumption.
(iv) Export Duties: These are taxes on exports, probably meant to discourage the export of
certain goods
(v) Excise Duty: These are sales or purchase taxes imposed on goods that are locally
produced and domestically consumed.
(vi) Value Added Tax: This is the consumption/expenditure tax levied or assessed on the
value of a commodity in each of the stages of production, exchange and distribution.
Advantages of Indirect Taxes
Indirect tax has the following advantages over direct taxes:
• Effects of indirect taxation are spread to all the consumers, that is, all consumers pay
indirect tax.
• More revenue is collected in this type of tax than in direct tax, because indirect tax is
paid by everybody who consumes goods and services. It means that it has a wider tax
base (source) than a direct tax.
• It is very difficult to evade paying indirect tax, because it is imposed on every purchase
of goods and services.
• It is paid unknowingly, by the tax payers; hence it is less painful to the tax payer and
does not discourage people to work hard.
• Unlike the direct tax, indirect tax is paid by final consumers. In this case, producers are
not affected directly by this type of tax. Unlike direct tax, indirect tax does not
discourage investments.
• Indirect taxes guide the allocation of resources in the country by increasing savings and
priority areas, and it discourages investments in non-priority areas of production.
• They help to stabilize the economy. High import duties help to control imports, thus
reduce balance of payment problems and improve terms of trade of the country.
• It has a wider coverage than direct tax, since it is paid by all the consumers of the
goods and services on which the tax has been levied.
• It can be used by the government to either encourage or discourage the production
and consumption of certain commodities.
37
Disadvantage of Indirect Tax

• Indirect tax is regressive in nature, because the low income earners pay a larger
proportion of their income, as tax, than the higher income earners.
• It is inflationary in nature, because when it is imposed, it increases the cost of
production and prices (it leads into a cost-push inflation)
• It is inconvenient. It is very difficult to collect this tax, since a lot of information is
needed from business people including follow ups.
• It is not economical. There is a lot of costs of administering the collection of this type
of tax. This makes this type of tax to be uneconomical to collect.
• The cost of collection and administering may be higher than the amount collected.
• Indirect taxes may have bias against certain groups of consumers like smokers and
alcoholic beverage consumers, these groups of consumers are heavily taxed.
• High indirect tax may discourage demand, because it leads to increase in the prices of
goods.
• Misallocation of resources may occur, since investors may opt to invest in industries
which are less taxed, and leave industries which are more productive and important to
the economy, but are heavily taxed.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
What is VAT?
VAT is an indirect tax which is levied on the supply of any taxable goods and / or services by
any business that is registered for VAT purposes. These goods/services must be sold or
supplied in the course of or for the furtherance of the businesses. VAT is also levied on the
importation of goods and services (Tanzania revenue Authority VAT general guide April 2007)
How does VAT work?
Each registered person in the chain between the first supplier and the final purchaser/user is
charged tax on taxable supplies made to him (input tax), and charges tax on taxable supplies
made by him (output tax). They pay over to the Commissioner the excess of output tax over
input tax, or recovers the excess of input tax over output tax from the Commissioner. The
broad effect of the scheme is that, businesses are not affected by VAT except in so far as they
are required to administer it, and the burden of the tax falls on the last purchaser/final
consumer.
The following example illustrates how VAT is charged as goods move from one registered
person to the next in the manufacturing and distribution chain, until they reach the final user. It
is assumed, for the purposes of illustrations that the manufacturer makes no purchase and that
VAT is charged and accounted for at the rate of 20%:
38
Table 2.1: VAT General Guide

Business VAT return VAT due
1. Manufacturer Tax on sales(output tax)Tshs. 200/= less tax
Selling price Tshs. on purchases (input tax (0) Tshs. 200/=
1000/= VAT payable Tshs. 200/=
VAT (20%)…..200/=
Tax invoice value
Tshs. 1,200/=
2. Wholesaler Tax on sales (output tax) Tshs. 280/= less
Selling price Tshs. Tax on purchases (input tax) 200/= Tshs. 80
1400/= VAT payable Tshs. 80/=
VAT 280/=
Tax invoice 1680/=
3. Retailer Tax on sales (output tax) Tshs. 400/= less Tshs. 120/=
Selling price Tshs. Tax on purchases (input tax ) 280/=
2000/= VAT payable
VAT 400/=
Tax invoice value
2400/=
4. Total tax 400/=
Source: Tanzania Revenue Authority (VAT general guide April 2007)

Who collects VAT?
VAT is collected by businesses and organizations that are registered by the commissioner of tax.
A business or organization, which is registered or required to be registered for VAT is called a
taxable person.
What are taxable supplies?
Taxable supplies are the supplies of goods or services made by VAT registered persons in the
course of or for the furtherance of the business.
Taxable supplies include the following:
The sale or delivery of taxable goods by taxable persons to another person, including
imports.
The sale or provision of taxable services by a taxable person to another person.
The appropriation, by a registered person, of taxable goods for his personal use or for use by
others like the family or friends;
- The making of gifts or loans of any taxable goods in the course of business.
- The letting of taxable goods on hire, leasing or other transfers.
- Barter trade, i.e. exchange of goods for other goods.
What are goods?
(a) Tangible movable things - goods in the ordinary sense of the word.
(b) Immovable property - land, buildings, etc.
Note: Money is not goods for the purpose of VAT
39
What are services?

Services include:
(i) Professional and commercial services - services include accountants, engineers, architects,
lawyers, secretarial, electricians, plumbers, builders, motor vehicle repairs, employment
agencies, advertising agencies, transport services etc.
(ii) Intellectual property rights - patents, trademarks, copyrights know - how etc.
Any other supply, which is neither goods nor money.
The role of the business people registered with VAT
The business people who are registered with VAT are supposed to do the following:
(i) Records: Proper and adequate records must be kept to enable a responsible revenue office to
check on the self-assessment of their VAT liability. Records should be kept for a minimum
of five years.
(ii) Tax invoices: A VAT registered person must provide a tax invoice to another VAT, registered,
person at the time of selling taxable goods or services.
(iii) Debit and credit Notes: These must be provided where required.
(iv) VAT Account: For each ‘tax period’, they must keep a summary of the totals of their output tax
and input tax.
(v) Returns: A VAT return must be completed and submitted to the tax Commissioner by the
due date, i.e. the last working day of the month after the month of business.
(vi) Accounting for VAT payable: Tax payable must be calculated and accounted for by the "due
date".
(vii) Changes of business particulars: Whenever there are changes in their business circumstances,
they should notify the tax Commissioner within thirty days of such change.
(viii) Retained Assets on cancellation of Registration:
VAT must be accounted for on any assets of a registered person retained upon ceasing to
be registered.
How do business people account for VAT?
VAT is normally accounted for at the time of supply, i.e. VAT is generally accounted for when:
• Tax invoice for the supply is issued, or
• Payment is received for the supply or part of the supply, or
• The goods are removed from the premises or from other premise where the goods are
under your control, or the goods are made available to the person to whom they are
supplied or when services are rendered or performed; whichever occurs first.
What is a tax period?
A tax period is the length of time covered by VAT return i.e. one calendar month.
Advantages of Value Added Tax (VAT)
- It is a broad-based tax which falls over a wide range of consumers through their
consumption expenditure.
- VAT promotes efficiency in production since firms cannot be taxed in case of losses
or profits, because the tax is based on the gross value produced.
- The tax has neutral distributive effects, and can guide the allocation of resources.
- VAT is simple in administration. The tax liability can easily be assessed and the tax
revenue effectively collected.
40
- It minimizes tax evasion, since each production unit accounts for taxes paid by other
firms from which inputs are obtained, so as to avoid tax payment by one individual
firm. This cross auditing enables tax authorities to avoid the possible occurrences of
tax evasion.
- It enables some goods to enjoy tax exemption, and yet uniform taxes are assessed on
other goods.
- VAT widens the tax base, because the tax has to be ultimately paid by the final
consumers.
- It is non-discriminative to factors of production, since they are equally taxed.
- It is quite easy to calculate among business people, if they keep and maintain proper
records.
Disadvantages of VAT
There is need for appropriate record keeping and frequent cross-checking, which is
not common in LDC's.
VAT is not popular, especially among the illiterate and, therefore cases of evasion are
likely to occur.
This tax tends to affect small firms and consumers, since it is often proportional. Large
scale enterprises are definitely less affected.
The tax is regressive, since all taxable goods and services are treated equally.
The VAT is complicated and difficult to be understood in some countries, like
Tanzania, it calls for massive education to create awareness among the citizens.
It is a consumption tax; therefore it may affect the level of consumption in the
country.
Usually, tax liabilities are not submitted to the tax authorities and yet this could result
into difficulties in tax collection.
The public is often ignorant about the commodities that are zero rated and exempted
from the VAT system.
There are sometimes delays in submission of revenue by tax collectors and payers to
the government.
Why the government of Tanzania introduced VAT?
The government of Tanzania introduced VAT due to the following reasons:
- To improve tax administration in the country.
- To increase the percentage of taxable Gross domestic product.
- To widen the tax base and, consequently, reduce the tax rate, so as to achieve equality,
tax compliance and minimize tax evasion
- To protect domestic industries against foreign competition.
- To minimize tariffs that affects her exports.
How VAT is computed?
V.A.T is only claimed and accounted for from registered tax payers /businessmen. VAT is
usually remitted to Revenue Authority within a business period of a month, by the tax
payers, at the time of purchase. VAT can only be offset on sales with purchases at each
stage of supply. This is eventually met by the ultimate consumer. Therefore, the
unregistered (the buyer) meets the tax in form of the final price of the commodity.
V.A.T payable = Output tax-Input tax.
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Why should individuals and firms pay tax?

There are several reasons as to why taxes are imposed. Some of these reasons include;
(a) Raising the government revenue: The government impose taxes in order to get revenue
that is necessary for meeting its expenditure on public services and administration of
the government.
(b) Income redistribution: Taxes are imposed in order to reduce the income gap between the
rich and the poor people in the society. The rich people are heavily taxed, and the
income collected is used to uplift the poor in terms of providing them with public
services.
(c) Encourage investment and growth: Tax on imports is aimed at discouraging imports, in
order to stimulate domestic production.
(d) To reduce deficit in the balance of payments: Tariffs are imposed on imports in order to
reduce imports and, therefore, reduce deficit in the balance of payments.
(e) To discourage consumption of harmful products: Tax is sometimes aimed at controlling the
production and consumption of harmful products, such as cigarettes and beer.
(f) To stabilize the economy: Tax can also be imposed in order to control economic
instabilities, such as inflation. During inflations, the government increases direct tax,
in order to control excessive demand, and reduce indirect tax in order to reduce the
prices of goods.
Incidence of Tax
This refers to the burden of paying tax. When tax is imposed, who actually pay the tax? Is
it the producer, the consumer or both?
(i) Case of direct tax: For the case of direct tax, the whole incidence of tax goes to the tax
payer i.e. the income earner. He/She has to pay the full amount of tax, since tax
burden cannot be shifted to anyone else.
(ii) Case of indirect tax: For the case of indirect tax, the burden of tax depends upon the
elasticity of demand for a commodity.
• Tax on Goods with Perfectly inelastic Demand: These are the goods which are
demanded in the same quantity at all levels of price. In this case, the incidence of
tax falls more heavily on the consumers, because the consumers buy the same
amount at whichever the level of price.
P0+t
PO
O Q1 Quantity demanded
Figure: 2:4: Tax on goods with perfectly inelastic demand
In figure 2:4 above, before the imposition of tax, price was PO, and the quantity
demanded was Q1, after the imposition of tax, the price increased to PO+ t (where
t is tax), but the quantity demanded remained the same at (Q1), therefore, the
consumer shouldered the whole tax incidence.
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• Tax on goods with perfectly elastic demand: These are the goods which are sold at the
same price, whatever the quantity demanded.
Price
P1
O Q1 Q2 Q3 Quantity demanded
Figure 2.5: Tax on goods with perfectly elastic demand
In figure 2:5 above, the producer sells different amounts at the same price, P1.So,
when tax is imposed by the government, the producer will bear the whole amount
of tax. Under this situation of perfect competition, the producer cannot influence
the price of the commodity.
• Tax on goods with inelastic demand: These are the goods which the quantity
demanded changes by a small proportion when price change. In this case, when
tax is imposed, price increases by the amount of tax levied, but quantity
demanded decrease by a small proportion. So, the tax burden goes to the
consumers, because they will be buying almost the same amount, but at a higher
price.
D
Price
Po+t
Po
D
O Q1 Q2 Quantity demanded
Figure 2.6: Tax on goods with inelastic demand
In figure 2:6 above, before the imposition of tax, the price was Po and the
quantity demanded was Q1. After the imposition of tax, the price increased to
Po+t, and the quantity demanded decreased by a small proportion to Q1. Hence,
the consumers bear the burden of paying tax, since the quantity they demand
decreased by a small amount when the price increased.
• Tax on goods with elastic demand: These are the goods which the quantity
demanded changes by a small amount when the price changes. When tax is
imposed, the price increase by the proportion of tax, resulting in a large decrease
in the quantity demanded. The tax burden, therefore, fall more heavily on the
producers because of the big decrease in the quantity demanded by the
consumers.
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Price D
Po+t
Po
D
Figure 2.7: Tax on goods with elastic demand
In figure 2:7 above, an imposition of tax on a commodity resulted into an

increase in the price of the commodity from Po to Po+t, and a large decrease in
the quantity demanded from Q4 to Q1, hence a big burden to the producers due
to the large fall in the quantity demanded and revenue.
Incidence of tax and systems of tax
The incidence of tax can also be discussed according to the systems of tax.
- The case of progressive Tax: In the case of progressive tax, the incidence of tax fall on
both high income earners, and low income earners, because tax increases as income
also increases.
- The case of regressive Tax: In this case of regressive tax, the incidence of tax falls more
heavily on low class people because they pay a large proportion of their income, as
tax, than the rich people.
- The case of proportional Tax: For the case of proportional tax, the burden of tax falls
more heavily on the low income earners than the high income earners, since both
these groups pay the same percentage of tax.
Economic effects of tax
Taxes have both negative and positive effects:
A. Negative Effects
The negative effects of taxes are as follows:
(i) Discourages people from working hard: Heavy direct tax discourages people from working
hard, since it reduces their disposable income i.e. the amount of money that remains
for consumption after the deductions of tax.
(ii) Discourages savings: Heavy direct tax reduces disposable income, hence the savings of
the income earners.
(iii) Discourages investment: Large tax, on firm's profits, is a disincentive against the
entrepreneurs to reinvest their profit in production.
(iv) Diversion in allocation of resources: Investors may deviate the allocation of resources from
heavily taxed but more productive sectors, to less taxed and low productive sectors or
to the production of illegal products, like cocaine, which are not taxed.
(v) Tax may cause inflation: Large income tax may animate workers to demand for more
wages and, therefore, lead to demand-pull inflation. Likewise, large indirect tax is
inflationary because, when imposed, it leads to an increase in the prices of goods and
services.
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B. Positive effects of taxes

The positive effects of taxes are as follows:
(i) It can be used to control inflation: By increasing direct tax, the purchasing power of the
people decrease. This may reduce demand-pull inflation.
(ii) Discourage harmful products: Certain kinds of indirect tax can be used to control the
production and consumption of harmful products such as cigarettes.
(iii) Control of balance of payment disequilibrium: Heavy import duties can be a disincentive
against imports and, therefore, a means of controlling the deficit in the balance of
payments.
(iv) Revenue generation: Tax is an important rootstock of the government’s revenues, that is,
the government depend on tax for most of its revenues.
(v) Redistribution of income: Tax redistributes income by taking part of the income of the
rich people. The government, therefore use the money collected to provide for social
services to the poor people.
Taxable capacity
Taxable capacity is the ability of the tax payers to pay the tax assessed on them, and at the
same time, retains a reasonable level of income to enable them live the life they are
accustomed to. So, taxable capacity of a nation is the percentage GDP, which is within the
capacity of the country to contribute to the public tax revenues. It can also be referred to
as the ability of the nation to obtain, from the tax payers, the revenues necessary from the
imposed taxes.
Factors affecting Taxable Capacity
The factors underlying taxable capacity are as follows:
• Inflation: This lowers the people’s purchasing power; hence it greatly affects the taxable
capacity, especially from indirect taxes.
• The level of economic progress: The taxable capacity is influenced by levels of economic
development.
• Population size: The number of inhabitants can increase the taxable capacity and the
amount of tax revenue to the government.
• Income distribution: Usually, equitable distribution of wealth leads to a less tax revenue as
compared to a situation where the wealthy are more and accordingly taxed. Political
stability increases the taxable capacity, since the public is confident due to the
conducive environment.
• Attitude of the taxpayers: A positive attitude towards development will increase the
taxation potential among the people and vice-versa.
• The tax procedure: An appropriate tax procedure or collection methods will promote tax
diversification and comprehensive taxes, which will expand the tax revenue.
• The objective of taxation: There is no doubt that the tax revenue/capacity will increase if
there are specific aims for which the revenue is directed. For example, if it is meant to
promote education, culture, industrialization, health, poverty eradication, tourism,
sports etc.
• The level of income: The stability of income will generate more tax revenue and increase
production, and vice-versa.
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• Reduction of conservative tendencies: Traditionalism and conservatism may hinder the taxable
capacity of the country while mordernization and liberalisation improves taxable
capacity.
Why is the taxable capacity low in LDCs?
The taxable capacity is limited by the following of factors:
- Political limits. For political reasons, the governments of LDCs often limit the taxable
level to a reasonable extent in order to gain popularity.
- The prevailing low levels of income among the people who are predominantly
subsistence producers cannot boost the taxable capacity in LDCs.
- In developing countries, cases of tax evasion and avoidance are common, and this
cannot expand the taxable capacity.
- Corruption. The taxable capacity is also limited by the corrupt tax assessors and
collectors.
- The size of production. The size and, therefore, the taxable earning of enterprises are
quite limited.
- Transportation bottlenecks. Collection of the desired/targeted tax revenues is further
hampered by inadequate transport, because some areas are still remote.
- Language limitation. The diversity of languages among the rural communities often
poses a serious communication problem, especially between he tax authority payers.
- The taxable capacity, in LDCs, is further limited by lack of proper record-keeping,
upon which taxation is based.
- The fear to interfere with international trade also tends to limit the level of taxation in
developing countries.
- The taxable capacity, in LDCs, is further affected by some cases of tax exemption.
- The rampant unemployment also affects the taxable capacity in LDCs, since this
would imply limited sources of income.
- Regressive taxation. The taxable level or capacity is limited and affected by the
regressive nature of taxation in LDCs, which mostly affect the poor.
- Inflation. This also scares the government from increasing taxes, since during an
inflationary period, people's real income tend to fall.
- Smuggling. Rampant smuggling of both products and finance, to neighbouring
countries, also affects the volume of tax revenues collected.
- In developing countries, taxable capacity is also limited by the prevailing unclear social,
political, commercial and institutional frameworks.
- In most LDCs, including Tanzania, the agricultural sector is dominant. This implies
that there are few industries from which adequate tax revenues can be collected.
- High population growth rates. High population lowers the taxable income, because of
the high dependency ratio.
- The need to attract foreign investors, who are crucial for national development. The
government has no choice but to offer tax relief, tax rebates, tax holidays, etc, in order
to encourage investors foreign. This, too, may lower the taxable capacity.
- The shift from the traditional sectors to the informal sectors, whose activities are quite
difficult to determine, makes it hard to determine appropriate taxes that should be
imposed on them.
- The taxable capacity is further limited due to the narrow definition of some illegal
activities, such as smuggling, prostitution, local brewing, private student’s tuitions etc.
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Measures that can be adopted to widen the tax base and taxable capacity
There are many ways of improving the country's tax base and taxable capacity as follows:
• The government should improve its administrative machineries as far as tax collection
is concerned, with an aim to minimize tax evasion and avoidance.
• Income generating activities should be encouraged, especially in rural areas, to provide
opportunities for employment so as to expand the nation’s taxable capacity.
• Diversification is further encouraged so as to expand avenues for the taxable
potentials.
• Taxes on imports should be increased, especially on luxury items, so as to increase the
amount of tax revenues.
• Reduction of income inequalities. The existing income disparities tend to lower the
taxation potentials. The government is, therefore, urged to reduce income inequalities
among most of the sections of the society, so as to expand the tax base.
• Education. There is need for education and awareness among the general public about
the importance of taxation for national development.
• Specific institution, such as the TRA, should be put in place with considerable degree
of autonomy to review the loopholes in tax collections, so as to raise the required tax
revenues for the state.
• Improvement in economic activities should be enhanced, e.g. in the manufacturing
sectors, informal employments, monetary expansions, etc, so as to raise the level of tax
collection.
• Tax diversity. New taxes have to be introduced, like VAT, the land tax, etc, in order to
widen the tax base.
• Fight corruption. Measures against corruption need to be greatly strengthened, e.g.
through the Inspector General of the government, The Public Accounts Committee,
the general Public, the press, etc.
• Adequate facilities to easily enhance the process of tax collection. There is need to
acquire the necessary operational facilities like transport; computers to store the
required tax information, etc so as to improve the efficiency in tax collection.
• A comprehensive tax payer’s data. This can enables survey on tax payers, so that the
tax collectors are kept in constant touch with the potential tax payers. This guides tax
policy formulation and tax actions designed to achieve an effective policy on taxation.
• The tax base can further be improved by constant review of the existing tax structures,
policies and programmes, so that they become compatible with the required targets.
THE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES

This refers to the spending of the government in various areas.
Types of The government Expenditures
The government expenditures can be categorized into the following groups:
(i) Recurrent Expenditures: This refers to the government spending on public consumption,
such as education, health, maintenance of peace and security, salaries to civil servants,
etc.
(ii) Development Expenditures: Refers to the government expenditures on development
projects, such as the construction of roads, railways, communication networks and
subsidies to economic sectors like agriculture.
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Objectives of the government expenditures

The government expenditures are intended to meet the following objectives:
• To provide essential goods and services to the public, such as education and health
services.
• Regulation of economic activities for the public interest. For example, control of
monopoly.
• Influence allocation of resources in order to improve efficiency. For example,
providing subsidies to small scale firms.
• Redistribution of income by providing loans and free social services to the poor.
• Stabilization of the economy, for example, controlling unemployment problems by
increasing expenditures on economic and social services, which help to stimulate
investments.
NATIONAL BUDGET
The national budget refers to the estimates of the government revenues and expenditures
in a given year. In Tanzania, the national budget is presented to the national assembly, by
the Minister of finance, in June each year. The minister makes a review of the government
revenues and expenditures for the previous year, and makes forecast of the government
revenues and expenditures for the coming financial year. The budget starts to be
implemented after it has been approved by the national assembly.
Types of National Budget
There are three types of national budget:
(a) Surplus Budget
A surplus budget is a budget in which the collected revenue is greater than the estimated
expenditures. To achieve a surplus budget, the government increases the tax rates.
Therefore, surplus budget reduces the purchasing power and investments.
Uses of the Surplus Budget
The surplus budget has the following uses:
(i) To correct inflation: The surplus budget can be used to control inflation because of the
high tax rate, which reduces disposable income and the purchasing power.
(ii) Correct balance of payments problems: By increasing tax on imports, the surplus budget
reduces the volume of imports and, thus controls deficit in the balance of payments.
(iii) Discourages the consumption of harmful products: Increase in tax rate, may also control the
consumption of harmful products.
(iv) To pay debts: The surplus budget may be used to pay the government debts
Surplus budgeting
A surplus budgeting occurs when the government plans to spend less than the revenue
available in a given financial year.
Aims and objectives of surplus budgeting
Surplus budgeting aims at achieving the following objectives:
• To reduce aggregate demand, so as to curb inflation.
• To finance development programmes in the country.
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• A surplus budget also aims at accumulating resources/funds for the purposes of future
investment.
• To reduce money in circulation.
• Enables the nation to give grants to other countries.
• It enables the establishment of development projects, within and outside the country.
However, a surplus budget may lead to:
- A depression in the economy.
- Excessive taxation of the people.
- Unemployment due to lack of incentives to save and invest.
- A decrease in money supply.
- Inadequate/insufficient aggregate demand due to high levels of taxation
(b) Deficit Budget
A deficit budget is a budget in which the estimated the government revenues fall short of
the estimated the government expenditures. A deficit budget has the following effects.
(i) It stimulates consumption and investments due to low tax.
(ii) It stimulates recovery from a recession.
Deficit Financing
Deficit financing occurs when the government planned expenditure is estimated to be in
excess to the expected revenue.
Aims of Deficit Financing
Deficit financing aims at:
(i) Reducing the burden of taxation from the people.
(ii) Increasing the level of supply.
(iii) Increasing the level of aggregate demand.
(iv) Encouraging savings among the general public.
(v) Curbing down deflation.
(vi) Stimulating the level of economic activity.
(vii) Encouraging borrowing, which may be a faster and cheaper way of financing the
government projects.
(viii) Lifting the economy from a slump or depression.
Causes of Budgetary Deficits in LDCs like Tanzania
Budgetary deficits are common deficits, basically arising from high the government
expenditures and limited avenues of revenue collection.
• Low taxable capacity. This has not enabled LDCs, like Tanzania, to raise adequate
revenues to balance their budget.
• High levels of tax evasion and avoidance. This, too, has limited prospects by the government
to acquire the required revenues.
• High population growth rates. The ever increasing population in LDCs, like Tanzania, has
led to high the government expenditures, thereby leading to budgetary deficits.
• Uneven distribution of incomes. This has further affected the taxation potential of the
country leading to limited revenue.
• Limited size of enterprises. In Tanzania and indeed many LDCs, the sizes of the
enterprises are still small and cannot raise enough tax revenues to balance the budget.
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• Corruption. Budgetary deficits have been attributed to high rates of corruption among
the politicians and some categories of the civil society. This has resulted into loss of
revenues which would have otherwise been used to cover the budgetary needs.
• Unemployment. Rampant unemployment, coupled with the current retrenchment
programmes, has worsened the situation, whereby a reasonable majority of the
unemployed can hardly contribute revenues to the national treasury.
• Poor planning. There is often lack of proper planning, financial discipline and
commitment, which has consequently led to wastage and misuse of public funds.
• Price fluctuations. Poor countries, being mainly dependent on agriculture, are subjected
to price fluctuations. This will imply unpredictable revenues from the agricultural
sector, which may consequently lead to deficits in the budget.
• High Marginal propensity to import. A lot of revenues in form of foreign exchange are
spent to import necessities. This has always resulted into fewer revenues available to
meet the domestic budgetary requirements.
• Subsistence sector. Poor countries are characterized by a relatively large subsistence sector,
with low productivity, output and income (revenue).
• Political reasons. The taxation potential is further limited by the desire for some
politicians to attain their political aspirations which greatly reduces the revenues base
of the country.
• Political instability. Poor countries are entangled in political turmoil. This compels them
to indulge into excessive expenditures to finance them (wars). However, a number of
revenues are lost in the process.
• High and unproductive expenditure by the government on its programmes have further adversely
affected their revenue base, causing temporary deficits in the budget.
• Limited tax revenue due to poor methods of collection. This has also led to reduced sources of
finance to balance the budget.
• Low savings and limited levels of capital accumulation have also affected the balancing of the budget,
because this limits the revenues potential of the country.
• Poor national and global economic performance, unfavourable terms of trade, etc has affected most
LDCs' potential to earn the required revenue to finance their budgets.
• Debt servicing. Poor countries have a heavy debt burden, which often take a substantial
proportion of their revenues which could have catered for the budgetary requirements.
• Inflation. The ever increasing price of goods and services has also affected the national
budget. With inflation, it is quite difficult to predict future budgetary planning.
• Unpredictable external funding has led to low and unreliable revenue, which consequently affects
the government budget.
(c) Balanced Budget
This is a budget in which the collected revenue is equal to the estimated expenditures.
Effects of a Balanced Budget

A balanced budget implies the following:
(i) That the government cannot borrow.
(ii) That there are stable prices, i.e. there is neither inflation nor deflation in the economy.
(iii) Money supply does not increase, i.e. it remains constant.
(iv) Aggregate demand does not change.
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(v) The central bank cannot print any more money.

(vi) There is a constant level of employment.
Functions of the National Budget
The budget has the following main functions:
• To redistribute income: Through the national budget, the government may redistribute
income by increasing expenditures in social services and providing subsidies to small
scale businesses.
• To correct deficit in the balance of payments: Through the budget, the government can
discourage imports and correct deficit in the balance of payments by increasing import
duty.
• To control inflation: Through the budget, the government can control demand-pull
inflation by increasing direct tax in order to reduce the purchasing power of the
people.
• To stimulate employment: The government can create more employment opportunities
through the budget by increasing expenditures on economic and social services, and
providing subsidies to sectors which increase the level of employment such as
agriculture. Also, by reducing tax on inputs in order to encourage investments and,
therefore, create jobs.
• Economic stabilization: The budget can be used as an instrument for stabilizing the
economy. For example, during economic recession, the government can reduce tax
and increase expenditures to stimulate consumption and create employment.
(d) Public Debts
His refers to the money that the government owe individuals, firms within the country, or
to institutions outside the country, and donor countries.
Classifications of Debts
Debts can be categorized into the following groups:
A: Internal or External debts
(i) Internal Debts: This refers to the money that the government owe institutions or
individuals within the country.
(ii) External Debts: This refers to the money that the government owe to institutions
outside the country or donor countries.
B: Long Term and Short Term Debts

(i) Long Term Public Debts: These are debts which are repaid after a long period of
time, between 5 to 20 years.
(ii) Short Term Debts: These are debts which are repaid after a short period of time.
C: Reproductive and Non Reproductive Debts

(i) Reproductive Debts: These are debts in which the government use the money
borrowed for productive expenditures, such as for the construction of roads or
for the provision of other social services.
(ii) Non-Reproductive Debts: These are the debts in which the government use the
money borrowed for non-productive expenditures, such as buying arms.
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Causes and Justification of Public Debts

Quite often, the governments in less developed countries have greatly depended on
borrowing. This can be justified by a number of reasons:
• Inadequate tax revenue: Poor countries incur debts because the revenues collected from
taxes is insufficient to finance the all the government programmes. At times, the
expected revenues tend to fluctuate.
• To reduce the burden of taxation: Borrowing is often resorted to as a means of reducing the
tax burden from the people.
• Overcome natural calamities: Debts are also incurred to meet the unexpected occurrences
such as floods, drought, etc.
• Raising revenues: The government incurs public debts so as to raise adequate revenue
that is required for development purposes.
• B.O.P deficit: Public debts, especially external debts, are incurred in a bid to correct the
B.O.P deficits which is common in LDCs.
• Financing ambitious development plans: The governments of poor nations tend to draw
ambitions plans that are often financed through borrowing, e.g. road construction,
industries, etc.
• To attain economic growth: Effective exploitation of the potential domestic resources
needs to be financed so as to increase GNP. Therefore, public debts are inevitable in
accomplishing this task.
• Public debts are also incurred in order to enable LDCs to fill the manpower, foreign exchange and
savings gaps.
• To balance the budget: Public debts are incurred to help in covering unforeseen or
unpredictable budgetary deficits which are common in developing countries.
• Curbing economic depression: Public debts are quite significant in raising production,
aggregate demand, employment and the level of economic activities in general.
• Debt servicing: It is a common practice, by some developing nations to incur new debts
in order to repay the old ones.
• Political instability: Some prevailing political turmoil in developing countries, especially in
Africa, has greatly necessitated the government borrowing, hence incurring public
debts.
Negative Consequences of Public Debts
Public debts have the following negative consequences:
- The volume of imports into the country tends to reduce. This is because of the high
outflow of foreign exchange to repay the debts.
- The burden falls on the citizens, who are taxed to cover up for internal debts, such
that the size of the debts may influence the level of taxation.
- The effect is great on the level of consumption because high taxes on individuals
deprive them of consumption.
- The future generation is affected as a result of the debt incurred many years back, to
finance services that it never enjoyed or will never enjoy.
- Debt repayment reduces expenditure on capital goods for investment and, thus,
limited capital formation.
- Dead weight debts e.g. financing wars may prove to be inflationary and can affect the
distribution of incomes, savings and investments.
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- Wastage may be encouraged. Dead weight debts results into wastage of resources,
especially at the time of repayment.
- Public debts encourage over-dependence on external sources; hence this does not
promote the spirit of self-reliance.
- The debt incurred in form of tied aid is always accompanied with strings (conditions)
attached which often conflict with the development programmes of the recipient
country.
- B.O.P position. External borrowing tends to worsen the country’s B.O.P position
leading to severe B.O.P deficits.
- High administrative costs. In case of internal debt, the costs of debt redemption are
quite high. This is made worse by the condition to pay a reasonable rate of the interest
required.
- Unemployment, deteriorating living standards, etc are likely to occur, because the
debts incurred tend to affect the level of investment and production.
Positive Consequences of Public Debts
The Public debts may have some positive consequences to the country.
The debt incurred can lead to an increase in the GDP increase it is used appropriately
to exploit and mobilize the domestic production for increased output.
The debt, if it is reproductive in nature, is quite significant in increasing the
government’s revenues.
More employment prospects can be generated, if the debt is a self-liquidating one, i.e.
aimed at stimulating production activities.
Increased foreign exchange earnings. More foreign revenues can come in, especially
through borrowing from external sources, or when used to promote and expand the
export sector.
The debts incurred can expand the levels of production within the domestic economy,
and this can generate economies of scale.
Improve the standards of living. Public debts incurred can enable the production and
importation of a wide variety of goods and services. This will, consequently, improve
the standards of living of the people.
The public debts (borrowings) tend to reduce political resistance to high taxation
which is likely to be done by the citizens of developing countries.
Borrowing is not deflationary; since it reduces the tax burden so as to increase people's
consumption expenditure, and therefore aggregate demand.
The public debts can reduce political instability, e.g. through borrowing to finance
wars. A stable political atmosphere, there is no doubt, encourages production for
development.
Debt finance acquired can help to cover the manpower, savings investment gaps, for
which poor nations tend to solicit for foreign aids.
Redemption of Public Debts/Management of Public Debts
This refers to attempts by the government to pay public debts. These attempts are as
follows:
- Surplus budget: In this method, the government estimates more revenues than
expenditures in the budget and use the surplus to pay debts.
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- Sinking fund method: In this strategy, certain amount of money is invested in the
bank, and after some years, the money increases through compound interests and the
money generated through this interest is used to pay debts.
- By conversion: In which the government takes a new loan of lower interest to pay the
previous debts.
- By repudiation: In which the government refuses to pay the debts
- Capital levy: In this method, the government imposes tax on assets such as buildings
to generate more revenues for paying debts.
- Use of accumulated foreign reserves: The government can use its reserve of foreign
currency to pay its debts.
- Selling securities: The government can pay the existing debts by selling its stock of
securities such as treasury bills and securities.
- Receiving grants and gifts: The government can repay some of its debts through the
grants and gifts received from donor countries.
- Privatization and profits from public enterprises: The government can privatize some
of the public enterprises to get revenues to pay some debts and use profits from its
enterprises to pay some of its debts.
- Barter trade: The government can influence traders to use the barter system of trade
in foreign trade to reduce the use of foreign exchange.
- Negotiation on debts cancellation: The government can negotiate with donors to
waive -off some debts.
- Selling of foreign investments: The government can sell some of the investments that
it may own abroad.
Measures That Can Be Used to Reduce Debt Burden in Less Developed Countries
Apart from the above debt management policies, the following measures can be used to
reduce the debt burden in developing nations:
(a) Self-reliance: LDC's can reduce dependency on foreign debts by boosting their
domestic production to have a self-reliant economy, hence reduce foreign
dependency.
(b) Import control measures: The government can apply import control measures, such as
tariffs, to reduce spending on imports which is one of the reasons that increase
foreign debt.
(c) Reduction in the government’s expenditures: The government can reduce its expenditures
on non-priority goods to avoid borrowing money.
(d) Strengthening of tax collection: The government should increase its efforts in tax
collection to get enough revenues to finance its expenditures instead of depending
on foreign aid.
Burden of Public Debts
The burden of public debts depends on the nature of the public debts, and whether the
debt is an internal or external debt, reproductive or non reproductive debt.
(i) Burden of internal debt: The burden of internal debt rests on the citizens of the country
because they are repayable through tax. The government is forced to increase more
tax in order to collect more revenues to pay the debts.
(ii) Burden of external debt: The burden of external debt rests on balance of payments
because they necessitate the country to pay foreign currency without return of goods
and services.
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(iii) Burden of reproductive debt: The burden of reproductive debt is not entirely on citizens
because income generated by the investments in question can be used to redeem such
debts.
(iv) Burden of non-reproductive debts: For the non-reproductive debts, the burden rests on the
citizens who are forced to pay more tax in order to enable the government to get
revenues to pay debts, since the money borrowed does not yield to any investment.
Why External Debt Increase?
Factors that increase external debts are as follows:
• Increase in the amount to be repaid due to the high interest rates.
• Fall in the demand for exports reduces the ability of the government to repay debts.
• Increase in the price of imports force the government to use its foreign currency on
imports, instead of repaying debts
• Rescheduling of debt repayment increase the amount of debts due to cumulative
interest rates.
• Wasteful expenditures on non-reproductive expenditures reduce the ability of the
economy to generate revenues for repayment of debts.
Fiscal Policy
It is a macro economics policy which is used by the government to attain some economic
objectives, such as control of inflation, correcting unfavourable balance of payments and
achieving economic growth.
Tools of Fiscal Policy
The followings are the tools of fiscal policy.
- The government expenditures.
- Taxation.
- Transfer payments.
Mechanisms of Fiscal Policy
There are two mechanisms of fiscal policy, these are;
Expansionary fiscal policy
Contractionary fiscal policy
Expansionary Fiscal Policy: In this policy, the government increases its expenditures and
reduce the amount of tax in an attempt to increase the aggregate demand.
Expansionary fiscal policy is designed to influence the aggregate demand, since when
expenditures are increased on things such as education, health, road construction and
salaries to civil servants; it results into an increase in income to the people. This act as
a stimulant to the aggregate demand.
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Y=C+ S
Expenditure
Aggregate demand two=C+I2 = Y2
E2
Aggregate demand one=C+11 = Y2

E1
O Y1 Y2 The national
Figure 2:8: Expansionary fiscal policy
In figure 2:8 above, before the increase in expenditures, the level of aggregate demand
is Y=C+I, and the national income was Y1. After the increase in expenditures from
E1 to E2,
Aggregate demand rose toY2= C+I2, and the level of the national income increased
fromY1 to Y2.
Contractionary Fiscal Policy: This is a policy in which the government attempts to reduce
aggregate demand by increasing tax and reducing expenditures. Its aim is to control
inflation.
Y=C+ S
Expenditure Aggregate demand 1=C+I2
Aggregate demand 2=C+I1

E2
E1
O Y1 Y2 The national
Figure 2: 9: A contraction fiscal policy
In figure 2:9 above, before the decrease in expenditures from E2 to E1, the National
Income is Y2, but after the decrease in expenditure, National income decrease to Y1
Foreign Aid
Foreign aid is any form of assistance from foreign countries or foreign institutions.
Forms of Aid
(a) Technical assistance
(b) Capital (funds, machinery)
(c) Grants
(d) Gifts
(e) Consultancy
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Advantages of Foreign Aid

Foreign aid can have some benefits as listed below.
(i) The recipient country may obtain technology from the donor countries.
(ii) The country can get foreign exchange.
(iii) Aid is very useful during natural calamities such as floods.
(iv) Aids promote cordial relationships between the donor country and the recipient
country
(v) In the short run, aid can help to clear deficit balance of payments.
Disadvantages of Foreign Aid
Foreign aids have several disadvantages as follows:
• Aid increase the debt burden of the recipient country
• Aid cultures economic dependency
• Some aid are not provided on time therefore may not be utilized efficiently
• Some aid is accompanied by some conditions which may be harmful to the economic
and social interest of the recipient country
• Some aid is of poor quality and therefore useless.
• Aid may be a disincentive for domestic production.
Review Questions
1. What is public finance?
2. Describe the types of taxes.
3. Discuss the merits and demerits of each type of tax.
4. Explain how the government may finance a deficit budget.
5. Discuss the types of budget.
6. Explain how a budget can be used as an instrument of economic policy
7. What are the uses of a surplus budget?
8. Discuss the main objectives of the government expenditures.
9. How can a national debt be redeemed?
10. Discuss the effects of deficit financing.
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CHAPTER THREE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Financial institutions are the institutions which involve themselves with financial
transactions such as mobilizing of savings, provision of credits, accepting deposits,
providing advice to the traders and the government.
Types of Financial Institutions
There are two types of financial institutions, namely;
(i) Banks
(ii) Non-banks
(i) Banks
These are financial institutions which perform the following functions:
• Mobilising of funds from the public and opening different types of accounts like
savings accounts, fixed deposit and current accounts
• Other functions include, advancing of loans; providing various commercial services to
the public, e.g. settling of debts through cheques, keeping valuable items, transferring
of funds from one area to another, or from one person to another, through travellers’
cheques and telegraph transfers.
(ii)Non-Banks
These are institutions which do not perform banking functions such as opening of
accounts to customers or provision of commercial services, but they provide specific
services to the customers or members, such as insurances and pensions. Non- banks do
not mobilize savings like the banks. They obtain funds from the members through
contractual savings, and these savings are normally in voluntary, they are compulsory. For
example, all employees in Tanzania have a legal obligation to submit a certain amount of
money each month from their salaries as contribution for their pensions to either the
National Social Security Fund (NSSF) or to the Parastatal Pension Fund (PPF)
Differences between Banks and Non-Banks
Banks and non-banks differ in the following ways:
• Non-banks do not operate accounts for their customers' savings, while banks open
different types of accounts such as savings, current and fixed deposits for their
customers.
• Non-banks do not use savings to advance loans to the public, while Banks use savings
mobilised from the customers to advance loans to immediate borrowers.
• Banks make profits through the loans advanced to their customers, while non -banks
depend on revenues that they obtain through investments such as buildings, dividends
on shares bought, etc.
• Banks, especially the commercial banks are established mainly to make profit, while
non-banks are established mainly to provide social security to their clients.
• Mobilisation of savings by non-banks is made contractual and compulsory, while
banks use persuasion to induce the public to save money.
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• Commercial banks operate cheque accounts, which make them members of the
Central Bank Clearing houses, whereas non-banks financial institutions are not
members of the central banks clearing house, since they do not operate cheque
accounts.
• Commercial banks operate bank accounts with the central bank, which is the banker's
bank, whereas non-banks intermediaries do not have such a facility.
• Some deposits of customers in the commercial banks, such as in current accounts, do
not get interest, whereas all deposits in the non-banks bear interest.
Types of banks
The following are the types of banks:
(a) Central Bank: This is the government’s bank which is established to assist the state
to control its money. It also gives financial advice to the government, and acts as a
banker for the commercial banks.
(b) Commercial Banks: These offer a wide variety of banking services and are usually
owned by share holders.
(c) Savings Bank: This is mainly intended to provide a safe place for keeping small
deposits and pays interests on them, e.g. Post Office Savings Bank.
(d) Specialized Banks: These are banks which serve a special type of customers or aim at
providing special types of services or functions to the general publics e.g.
Development Banks.
(e) Co-operative Banks: These are Banks which are established to mobilize funds within
a co-operative movement. The banks help co-operatives to finance for their
activities.
(f) Merchant Banks: These are banks which specialize in accepting and discounting bills
of exchange, and assisting traders in international trade.
Central bank
The Central Bank is the government’s institution established to control, guide and assist
other banks in the country, and also to provide banking services and financial advice to
the government.
Bank of Tanzania (B.O.T)
Historical background
The central Bank of Tanzania (B.O.T was established by an act of parliament on 23rd
December, 1965 to replace the East African currency board. The Bank of Tanzania
started its functions in 1966 and issued its own currency in the same year. The central
Bank of Tanzania has the following roles which can be grouped into four main functions.
(a) Banking functions
(b) Domestic monetary management functions
(c) External monetary management functions
(d) Development functions
(a) Banking Functions
Under banking functions, the B.O.T has the following functions:
• Fiduciary issue/currency issue: The Central Bank has the role of printing notes and minting
coins and issuing them into the economy.
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• It is the Bankers Bank: The Central Bank is the custodian reserve of other Banks. All
banks and non-banks are supposed to keep a certain specific amount of their capital as
reserves in the Central Bank, and it is the responsibility of the Central Bank to keep,
the reserves safely.
• It is the Banker of the government: The Central Bank keeps the government’s money. It is
also the major advisor to formulation and implementation of monetary and fiscal
policies of the country, the Central Bank can sometimes advance loans to the
government in case it faces budget deficit.
• It is a lender of last resort: If commercial banks are short of money and cannot get them
from any source, then it is the responsibility of the Central Bank to advance loans to
the commercial banks
• It is the central clearing house for commercial banks: If any dispute concerning settlement of
debts arises between two banks, then it is the responsibility of the Central Bank to
settle this dispute.
(b) Domestic Monetary Management Functions
Under this function, the Central Bank has the following functions:
• Financing the government budget deficit: In case the government faces a budget
Deficit, the Central Bank finances the deficit by providing loans to the government.
• Management of the government debts: The Central Bank manages the government debts
both local and foreign debts, by keeping the amount and pays on behalf of the
government.
• It is a financial adviser: The Central Bank gives advice to the government on all monetary
issues, such as money supply, inflation, public debts, taxation, expenditure, etc.
(c) External Monetary Management Functions
• Management of the country's foreign exchange reserves: Under this function, the Central Bank
controls all the foreign currencies which are received through exports and which are
paid through imports and other payments.
• Control exchange rate and importation of goods: The Central Bank is responsible for
determining the value of domestic currency in relation to foreign currencies. It also
controls the importation of goods and services from abroad.
• Export promotion: The Central Bank helps in promoting the exports sector so as to
increase the government’s foreign exchange.
• Participation in discussion with international financial institutions: The Central Bank on behalf
of the government, participates in discussion with International Financial Institutions
and the World Bank on the stability of its currency, payments of debts and other
financial assistance.
(d) Development Functions
• It provides medium and long-term loans to commercial banks.
• It supervises commercial banks and non-banks.
• It is involved with the formulation and implementation of monetary and fiscal policies
of the country.
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How the Central Bank Controls Money Supply in the country?

The Central Bank controls money supply by using the following tools instruments:
- Open market operation: This is buying and selling of the government securities. During
inflation, the Central Bank sells securities to the public. By doing so, money is
reduced/withdrawn from the public. When this happens, the prices of goods and
services will fall because the public has less money to buy goods and services. During
deflation, the Central Bank buys securities in order to increase money supply. An
increase in money supply stimulates investment, employment and income.
- Bank rate: This is the rate at which the Central Bank charges to commercial banks
when they borrow money from the Central Bank. During inflation, the Central Bank
increases the bank rates in order to discourage commercial banks from borrowing
money. In response, commercial banks increase interest rates (the rate which is
charged to borrowers of money from commercial banks) in order to discourage
borrowing. When this happens, the money in circulation decreases. In this case,
inflation may be controlled. During deflation, the Central Banks reduces the bank rates
and instructs commercial banks to reduce their interest rates.
- Control of credits: In order to control the money in circulation, the Central Bank instructs
commercial banks to reduce the amount of credits (loans). So, in this case the amount
of money in circulation decline, consequently fall in price and control of inflation.
During deflation, commercial banks are encouraged to give more credits.
- Reserves requirements: Reserve requirement is the minimum balance which commercial
banks are required to maintain as reserves, it means they are not allowed to give more
than the reserve requirements. During inflation, the Central Bank instructs commercial
banks to increase the reserve requirement. By doing so, the ability of commercial
banks to provide credit is lowered; therefore the amount of money in circulation is
reduced, leading to a fall in price and inflation. During deflation commercial banks are
required to reduce reserve requirement in order to give more credits.
- Special deposits: These are special accounts which are opened by commercial banks at
the Central Bank. During inflation, the Central Bank instructs commercial banks to
make special deposits at the Central Bank apart from the usual deposits that they
make. The aim is to reduce the ability of commercial banks to provide credits. In this
way, the Central Bank is able to control the amount of money which commercial
banks can provide as credits.
- Special credits: In this method the Central Bank instructs commercial banks to provide
credits to special projects such as Agricultural projects and industrial projects only. The
aim is to boost and control the amount of credits. During inflation, the Central Bank
instructs commercial banks to provide credits to productive sectors of the economy in
order to increase production.
- Moral suasion: In this instrument, the Central Bank persuades or advises the commercial
banks to reduce the amount of credits during inflation
Contribution of Bank of Tanzania to economic development
The Central Bank of Tanzania has the following contribution on the economic
development of the country.
It provides financial facilities to the commercial banks in terms of loans, which are
used by commercial banks to provide loans to investors. In this case, the Central Bank
is involved with the promotion of investment in the country.
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It is involved with controlling of imports and therefore it helps to create a favourable

balance of payment.
It provides financial assistance to the government during budget deficits and, thus
enables the government to meet its expected expenditures.
The Central Bank is helpful in stabilization of the economy. In this process, the
Central Bank is engaged in stabilization of the economy by controlling money supply
by using monetary policy instruments. For example, open market operation, bank
rates, control of credits etc.
The Central Bank provides employment to Tanzanians. A good number of Tanzanians
are employed either directly or indirectly by the Central Bank.
COMMERCIAL BANKS
These are profit making financial institutions that lend money at higher interest rates than
it pays on deposits. They are formed as joint stock companies for the purpose of
operating business with an aim of making profit from the services that they render to the
public. Examples of commercial banks in Tanzania are; National Bank of Commerce
(NBC), CRDB, Barclays Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Stanbic Bank
Functions of Commercial Banks
• They accept money and deposits from customers
• They safe guard money, deposits and valuable documents kept with them.
• They advance loans and overdrafts for their customers.
• They provide cheque facilities which make payments easy, i.e. travelers’ cheques.
• Provide night strong room safes in which money can be deposited after working hours.
• Provide employment opportunities to the general public.
• Offer trustee services to their customers.
• They pay customer’s money on demand through different accounts offered, i.e. Saving,
Current and Fixed deposit accounts.
• Commercial banks also create credits through the excess funds kept with them.
• They assist the Central Bank to implement monetary policies and also in replacing old
currency.
• They act as clearing houses when they accept cheques from its customers which are
not drawn on them but on other banks.
• They facilitate international trade by discounting bills of exchange and money transfer
services on behalf of their customers. They also issue bank drafts, traveling cheques
and letters of credits.
• They give financial advice to their customers.
Problems facing commercial banks in East Africa
The existence of large subsistence sectors in which most people are illiterate and
production is basically for subsistence.
- There is low savings from the people, which is as a result of low income levels due to
poverty.
- Some customers of commercial banks are untrustworthy and lack collateral security to
secure loans.
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- Most banks are concentrated in urban areas, that they are not widely spread in rural
areas; hence it is a problem to mobilize savings.
- The banks have been mismanaged, through corruptions and embezzlements.
- Commercial banks charge high interest rates on loans, hence discourages many
prospective borrowers.
- They lack enough skilled manpower, since there is inadequate staff training.
- They are faced with stiff competition from other commercial banks, which has led to
some commercial banks being closed.
- There is the government interference in the running of commercial banks.
- There are faced with problems of poor transport and communication in rural areas.
Types of Accounts Offered by Commercial Banks
Banks provide three principal accounts, namely: savings accounts, fixed deposit
accounts and current accounts.
1. The Savings Accounts
This is offered by both savings and commercial banks. It is mainly intended for small
savers with low income. It encourages them to save out of the little income earned.
The Main Features/Characteristics of the Savings Accounts
• The account holder is required to deposit a minimum initial deposit.
• The account holder is also required to retain a certain minimum balance at all times.
• Deposits of any amount can be made at anytime.
• No overdrafts are allowed, but balance on the account can be used as security when
applying for an overdraft.
• No cheque books are provided to the accounts holders.
• When depositing or withdrawing money, the passbook or bank card must be presented
to the bank.
• The bank allows interest on deposits done in the savings account. The rate of interest
is calculated as a percentage and differs from the bank to another bank.
Operating a Savings Account
In order to open a bank savings account, one has to first apply with two witnesses issued,
one of whom must be a customer of the bank. To use the account, one is issued a
passbook which shows deposits, withdrawals and balances. One cannot withdraw or
deposit money without producing the passbook. If a customer losses it, he/she has to pay
a charge to acquire a new one. In modern banking services, banks issue. Automatic Teller
Machine cards (ATM) cards. These are cards that contain the data about the account of a
customer: A customer can use the card to get cash from the Automatic Teller Machines
(ATM) without necessarily filling in forms at the counter of the bank.
2. Fixed Deposit Account
This is an account opened with a certain minimum amount of deposit which remains
fixed for a specified period of time. Here, no further deposits or withdrawals are allowed
before the expiry of the period.
These deposits earn a higher rate of interest than the savings account. The account
holder is issued with a receipt which he presents at the end of the deposit period. If the
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account holder wants to withdraw his money before the end of the period, he/she can
notify the banker but has to forego the interest or get lesser amount of interest.
Features of the fixed deposit account
(a) Fixed deposit accounts are opened for a specific period of time, e.g. 6 months, 1 year,
etc.
(b) The deposits in fixed accounts can be used as security to apply for an overdraft.
(c) The banks pay interest on the deposits at higher rates.
(d) Deposits may be used by the commercial banks to advance loans to other people.
(e) Account holders are issued with a receipt, which they must present to withdraw their
money at the expiry of the deposit period.
(f) Deposit accounts are opened with a specific amount, for a specific period, and no
further deposits or withdrawals are allowed till the expiry of the period.
3. The Current Account
These accounts are offered by commercial banks only, and are basically for business
people and large companies or organizations.
Characteristics of the Current Accounts
(a) A customer is required to make a minimum initial deposit at the time of opening the
account.
(b) No minimum balance is required to be maintained. This means that the account
holder may withdraw all his/her deposits.
(c) Money can be deposited at any time in any form.
(d) Withdrawals can be made at any time.
(e) Account holders are allowed to over draw their accounts.
(f) They issue cheque books, to the customers, which are used for withdrawing money
from the bank.
(g) The Banks customers are issued with bank statements at the end of each month.
(h) No interest is paid on deposits; instead the account holder is charged a fee as bank
charges.
How to open a current account?
In order to open a current account, one has to first apply. The applicant is usually required
to fill in forms provided by the bank, having the following information:
(i) Specimen signature which will be used by the account holder whenever he/she
withdrawals money.
(ii) Customer’s Postal address for future correspondence.
(iii) Customer’s occupation.
(iv) The applicant of the current account will need two witnesses who should be
customers of that bank.
How to deposit money in the current account?
A person wishing to make a deposit must fill in a document called a pay-in slip. Some banks
provide separate pay-in slips for cash and cheque deposits.
These slips must be filled in duplicate; the original is retained by the bank and the copy is
stamped and signed by the receiving cashier and returned to the customer who can keep it
for his record purposes. An account-holder can get bound books of pay-in slips which
makes retention of copies easier for him.
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How to withdraw money from the current account

A person wishing to withdraw money from his current account must write a cheque. A
cheque is a written order, from the account-holder to his bank, instructing to pay a
specified sum of money to the person named therein, or to the bearer.
Parties to a Cheque
There are three parties to a cheque.
(i) The Drawer: This is the person who writes out the cheque for payment, i.e. the
account holder.
(ii) The Drawee: This is the bank for which the cheque is drawn. It pays money from the
drawer’s deposits.
(iii) The Payee: This is the person to whom the cheque is made payable. He/she is
usually the creditor owed money by the drawer.
The cheque wherein the payee is named is called an order cheque. An order cheque
is payable to the person named on its face (the payee) or to his/her order, that is, to
anybody else whom the payee may name. If the payee wishes to transfer the right to
receive money against an order cheque, he/she must endorse it, that is, he/she must sign
his name at the back of the cheque and name the new payee. An order cheque is,
however, not a safe method of payment.
How to write a cheque
As it has been shown, a cheque is of great importance when facilitating payments, thus a
great care should be taken when handling it. The following items should appear when
writing a cheque.
• Date: A cheque should bear the day, month and year of which it was written and signed
for payment.
• Payee’s name: This is the name of the person or firm to whom the bank will pay as per
the order of the drawer.
• Amount: A cheque should clearly bear the amount of money which has to be paid to
the payee named on the cheque; the amount, in words and figures must be indicated
and the same.
• Signature: A cheque must be signed by the Drawer. The signature of which must be in
the Bankers’ records.
Cheques may be:
(i) Open cheques
(ii) Crossed cheques
(i) Open cheques

These are payable across the counter and may be made payable to anybody holding the
cheque, or to a named person, or his/her order. A cheque wherein no payee is named is
called a bearer cheque, and can be cashed by anybody who presents it across the counter. If a
bearer cheque gets lost, there is a risk that any person who finds it succeed in getting the
money indicated on it.
A cheque wherein a payee is named is called an order cheque. An order cheque is payable
to the person named on its face (the payee) or to his/her order, that is, to anybody else who
the payee may name. If the payee wishes to transfer the right to receive money against an
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order cheque, he/she must endorse it, that is, he/she must sign his name at the back of the
cheque, and name the new payee. An order cheque is not a safe method of payment.
(ii) Crossed cheques

A crossed cheque is a cheque that bears two parallel lines, called crossings, across its face.
Crossings are usually drawn transversely on the upper left-hand corner of the cheque. A
crossed cheque cannot be presented for payment across the counter; it must be deposited
in a bank account. This enables the drawer or the bank to trace the payee. Crossings may
be general or special.
Crossings
Crossings may take one of the following forms:
• Two parallel lines, with no words between them. This is referred as general crossing.
• Two parallel lines with words, '& Co. or ‘account payee only’ between them. This is
referred as special crossing. These words, however, do not have any significance.
A crossed cheque with or without the words, '& Co.', is different from an order cheque only
in the respect that, whereas an order cheque can be cashed across the counter, such a
crossed cheque must be presented through a bank account.
An example of an open cheque
22/9/06
James Kinunda
The sum of two million Shillings 2,000,000/=
An example of a closed cheque
25/9/06
Lusajo Mwaisela
The sum of four million Shillings 4,000,000/=
Figure 3.1: Specimen of open and crossed cheques

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Advantages of paying by cheque

Paying by cheque has the following advantages over paying in cash:
(a) It is very convenient. Writing a cheque takes less time than counting a large number
of currency notes and coins. It may take only a few seconds to write 'Tshs. two
million, three hundred and forty two thousand, six hundred and eighty two and Cents
twenty five only, but counting coins and notes to this amount can take well over an hour.
(b) It is very safe. Whereas cash can be stolen and used readily by a thief, a cheque can be
specially crossed to make it worthless to anybody other than the rightful payee.
(c) A cancelled cheque, i.e. the cheque against which payment has been made, is an
evidence of payment in itself.
Dishonoring a cheque
In certain circumstances, a bank may dishonour a cheque, i.e. refuse payment for it.
Reasons for dishonoring a cheque
A cheque may be dishonoured by a bank if:
(i) The drawer does not have sufficient funds in his/her account with the bank. If a
cheque is returned unpaid for this reason, it will be marked as R/D (Refer to
Drawer) or Insufficient Funds.
(ii) The drawer is dead, or has become bankrupt.
(iii) The drawer has instructed the drawee bank not to honour the cheque.
(iii) The cheque has an error in it, e.g. the amount in words and the amount in figures do
not correspond.
(iv) The cheque is stale. A stale cheque is a cheque presented six months after the date on
the cheque.
(v) The cheque is presented before the date on it. Such a cheque is called a post-dated cheque.
(vi) The drawer has closed his account with the drawee bank.
(vii) The cheque is not signed by the drawer, or if the signature differs from the specimen
held by the bank.
Other means of payment available at commercial banks
• Credit transfer: This is a means by which one or a number of accounts can be paid
through a bank, the clearing banks operating a credit transfer similar to their cheque
clearing system. Not only is the service open to the bank’s customers but also to
others on payment of a small fee. Credit transfers are payments made on instructions
to a bank to customers of the same or other banks. To make use of this method of
payment, the debtor must know the name of his creditor’s bank. The advantage of
this system lies in the saving it affects in stationery, stamp duty, and postage.
If a business person wishes to settle a number of debts, under the cheque system,
he/she would need to prepare a separate cheque for each creditor. Preparing a cheque
could be a long procedure in certain offices. It involves the preparation of a number
of documents (vouchers) and signatures by two or more important officers. Then each
cheque must be posted separately, thereby causing the expense of a covering letter, an
envelope and postage.
Using a credit transfer, however, a business person would only need to prepare a
list of the people he/she wants to be paid, specify the amount to be paid to each of them,
total the amounts, and pay the total by one cheque to his/her bank, which will then see
to it that each of the payees receives the amount due to him. It is usual to include, in the
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list, the name of the bank and branch of each of the payees. If a payee does not have a
bank account, his/her postal address may be given. Most employers prefer to use this
method of payment to pay salaries to their staff members, who are encouraged to open
bank accounts.
• Standing orders: A standing order is an instruction to a bank to pay a specified sum of
money to a named person (or business) at regular and specified intervals, for a specified
period or till the arrangement is cancelled. For example, a business person may instruct his
bank to pay, say Tshs. 5000000 on the first of each calendar month, to his landlord. If
he/she has acquired the premises on a lease for, say, a year, he/she may ask the bank to
make twelve such remittances. If the premises are not held for a specified period, he/she
may instruct the bank to keep on making the monthly payments till he/she cancels the
arrangement in writing. It is a very useful service provided by the commercial banks to
those business people who are very busy and have a large number of regular
commitments to meet. Hire-purchase installments, rent, loan repayments, insurance
premiums, etc., are examples of payments that can be safely entrusted to a bank to pay
at regular intervals. It eliminates the possibility of skipping a payment and the
consequences of not meeting a commitment on time. Banks charge a small fee for this
service.
• Bank Draft: This is a cheque drawn on a bank. If a creditor is unwilling to accept a
personal cheque in payment a bank draft can be used. A Bank draft drawn in a bank is
safer than a cheque, the debtor having paid the bank for it in advance.
If a person finds a supplier who is unwilling to accept a personal cheque, or if a
remittance is to be made to a distant town urgently, he/she may approach a bank to
obtain a bank draft. A bank draft is a cheque drawn on a bank and is more readily
acceptable as the bank guarantees payment against it. A bank will issue a bank draft only
after it has received money from the person requesting it.
Bank drafts are mainly used to send money to another town. One reason for their
popularity for this use is that they need not be sent for collection to the issuing bank,
as is the case with cheques, which must be cleared by the drawee bank before any
payment is made to the payee by the collecting bank. It thus speeds up payment.
Drafts are also commonly used for settling debts due to overseas suppliers.
• Travelers cheques: These are the cheques issued by the banks in fixed denominations to a
person who pays for them in advance. These are very useful for a business person who
may have to travel to another town where they may find shops or hotels unwilling to
accept personal cheques. Travelers’ cheques are also available in foreign currencies.
A person, wishing to buy travelers cheques, pays their value and a small service
charge to the issuing bank. The bank then issues him with the cheque leaves and asks
him to sign them in the presence of the bank officer. When presenting these cheques
for payment, the holder must countersign the cheques in the presence of an officer of the
paying bank. The two signatures will be compared and if found similar, payment would
be made against the cheque. A person may also be called upon to prove his identity. This
makes travelers cheques a very safe way of carrying money, because, in case they are
stolen, the thief cannot cash them. Most banks authorize hotels and major shops to
accept their traveler’s cheques.
• Credit cards: These are mainly issued by banks, but may also be issued by other organizations
such as Diner Club. They give the holder authority to buy goods, at shops designated by
the issuing organizations, for amounts up to an agreed maximum. The selling shop then
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presents the bill to the organization that issued the credit card and is paid promptly
(less any pre-agreed commission). The issuing organization then bills the card-holder
and either asks for prompt cash or installments in which case interest is charged on
unpaid monthly balances.
CLEARING HOUSE
A clearing house is a place where different banks settle amounts that become payable
to each other as a result of their client’ transactions. To understand the working of
clearing house, let us consider the following example. Let us suppose that; (1) Mr.
BUKAGILE, who has an account with NBC Bank Ltd, issues a cheque worth Tshs.
4000000/= to Mr. KIIZA, who has an account with Akiba Commercial Bank; (2) Mr.
NYAMBARI, who has an account with Akiba Commercial Bank issues a cheque for
Tshs. 5000000/= to Mr. MSABILA who has an account with NBC Bank Ltd. A
representative of NBC Ltd will come to the clearing house with the cheque for Tshs.
5000000/= that has been deposited with them by Mr. MSABILA. Similarly, a
representative of AKIBA Commercial Bank will bring along the cheque worth Tshs.
4000000/= that was deposited with them by Mr. KIIZA. They will exchange the cheques
and a note will be made of this fact. NBC Bank Ltd will now verify the signature on the
cheque for Tshs. 4000000/=, to ensure that it is the same as the specimen held by them.
They will also check other details, such as the amount in figures and words, date etc,
on the cheque, and then they will see if Mr. BUKAGILE (drawer) has enough funds in his
account. If everything is in order, their representative will confirm the validity of the
cheque to the AKIBA Commercial Bank‘s representative when they meet in the clearing
house the following day. By that time, the AKIBA Commercial Bank would also have
verified the cheque issued by their client, Mr. NYAMBARI, assuming they too found the
cheque in order, the matter will be solved between the banks by AKIBA Commercial
bank paying Tshs. 1000000/=, the difference in values of the two cheques, to the NBC
BANK. This transaction can be settled by the Central Bank, which has the accounts of
both the banks, having received instruction from these two banks. The Central Bank will
simply transfer Tshs. 1000000/= from the account of AKIBA Commercial Bank to NBC
Bank.
Examples of commercial banks in Tanzania
1. National Bank of Commerce (NBC)
This was established in 1967, following the nationalisation of private banks such as
Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Bank etc. It was in line with the Arusha declaration
which emphasised on public ownership. The National Bank of Commerce was expected
to provide solutions to the following short comings /problems of foreign Banks.
(a) Too much of domestic credit to foreigners
(b) There was low level of finance to the domestic sector
(c) Low level of domestic saving mobilization.
(d) Export of capital by foreign banks for investment abroad.
(e) Foreign dependence on management skills and other human resources.
(f) Lack of support to the government when it faces a budget deficit.
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Functions of NBC
NBC, like any other commercial banks, performs the following functions:
(i) It provides loans to investors.
(ii) It mobilizes savings.
(iii) Transfer of funds from one area to another by using travellers’ cheque, telegraphic
transfer, money order etc.
(iv) It provides technical advice to the investors.
(v) It facilitates payment of debts through cheques.
(vi) Custodian of valuable items. The public can keep valuable items, such as gold,
diamonds, certificates etc with NBC.
Following the policy of privatization, NBC was divided into two Banks
• National Bank of Commerce Ltd.
• National Micro Finance Bank (NMB)
NBC 1997 Ltd provides services to big business people, while NMB provides service
to low income earners or small business people.
2. The co-operative and rural development bank (CRDB)
Historical Background
CRDB was started in 1947 as African loan fund, comprising of:
(a) Local development loan fund to assist food production and;
(b) African productivity loan fund to assist European farmers.
In 1948 the land Bank of Tanganyika was established to assist European farmers and
in 1961, the agricultural credit agency was formed into the national development
credit Agency and was placed under the National co-operative and development
Bank.
(i) In 1971, the Tanzania rural Development bank (TRDB) was formed by an Act of
parliament.
(ii) In 1984, TRDB was replaced by the co-operative and rural Development bank
(CRDB)
(iii) In 1996, CRDB 1996 Ltd was formed by selling parts of its shares to individuals.
Functions of Co-operative and Rural Development Banks (CRDB)

CRDB performs the following functions:
• To provide medium and long term credits.
• To provide credits to co-operative unions.
• To help in selection of projects.
• To monitor projects.
• To enforce repaying back the loans.
• To provide banking services.
• To promote rural development.
• To facilitate purchase of crops in rural areas.
• To provide technical advice to its customers.
Note: In 1996, CRDB was transformed into a commercial bank and started operations,
like other commercial banks and started to provide credits to other sectors.
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SPECIALIZED BANKS
These are banks which are specialised in specific functions or sectors. Examples of
specialized Banks are;
1. Tanzania Investment Bank (T.I.B)
This was established by the act of parliament in 1971, with an aim of ensuring that all the
means of production are controlled by of the public.
Functions of Tanzania Investment Bank
Tanzania investment Bank performs the following functions:
(a) To make long and medium term finance available, for the development of
manufacturing, assembling and processing industries.
(b) Large scale cooperate agriculture, ranching, forestry etc.
(c) To provide technical assistance and advice so as to promote industrial development.
(d) To administer such special funds as may arise from time to time.
2. Tanzania Housing Bank (THB)
The Tanzania Housing Bank was established in 1973 to perform the following functions:
(a) To provide credits for residential or commercial premises within Tanzania. The loans
are provided to private individuals, public co-operations and groups of people.
(b) To receive deposit and to effect payment to three different accounts, namely, current
accounts, fixed deposits and saving accounts.
(c) To provide banking services.
(d) To ensure that loans are repaid back.
(e) To make payment through bank orders.
Note: THB collapsed in 1994 because of non- performing loans.
Credit creation
Creation of credit means the process under which commercial banks advance loans many
times greater than their excess reserves. This process results in an increase in the volume
of bank deposits hence, in money supply. For example, if the legal amount available with
commercial banks is 100 million, and on the basis of this amount, loans of 1000 million
are issued, it is known as creation of credit.
Example
Assuming there are different banks in any country. If a loan of Tshs.100 million is issued
by bank ‘A’, it will result in advance of loans many times greater than this amount as
shown in the following example:
Table 3.1: Credit creation
BANK ‘A’ BANK B BANK C BANK D
Excess reserve Tshs. 100 Primary deposit Primary deposit Primary deposit
million. Which is loaned to a Tshs. 100 million Tshs. 90 million Tshs. 81 million
person who deposits in bank B
Reserve ratio Reserve ratio 10% Reserve ratio 10%
10%
Excess reserve Excess reserve Excess reserve
Tshs. 90 million Tshs. 81 million Tshs.72.9 million
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In the above example, Bank A has excess reserve of Tshs. 100 million which it advances
to an individual who deposits the whole amount in Bank B, Bank B keeps10% of the
amount as a reserve ratio and therefore advance a loan of Tshs. 90m to another person,
this person deposits this amount to bank C which also maintain 10% of the amount as
reserve. Then bank C advance the remaining Tshs. 81 million as a loan to another person
who deposits this money to bank D. This process will continue until the whole amount of
Tshs 100 million, which was advanced by bank ‘A’, disappear in the form of reserves
ratios kept by different commercial banks. Thus, the loans advanced by different
commercial banks can be expressed as under 100+90+81+72.9+…. =1000
Credit creation can be calculated by using the following formula
Excess reserve
Creation of credit =
Reserve ratio
In this case, the excess reserve will be that loan which will be advanced as loan by
Bank 'A'
In which case, the excess reserve = Tshs.100 million
Reserve ratio = 10%
100 million
Creation of credit = =Tshs.1000 million
10%
Limitations on Creation of Credit

The process of credit creation is limited by the following factors:
• Liquidity Ratio (Reserve Ratio): This is the ratio which commercial banks keep reserve to
meet the demands of the deposits. If the reserve ratio is lower then the creation of
credit it will be higher, and vice - versa.
• Power of the Borrowers: Commercial banks advance loans to people who possess some
assets which can be securities for their loans. If people who want loans have such
assets, then it become easier for them to secure loans from banks, but if they do not
possess such assets, it becomes difficult for them to get loans from banks.
• Economic Depression /Stagnancy/slump: During economic depression, the demand for
credit is very low; therefore credit creation is also low.
• Poor Saving Habits among the People: Many people, in less developed countries, do not
have the habit of saving money in banks. Therefore, banks fail to accumulate enough
money that can be used to give loans.
• Leakage of Money Out of the Banking System: If, for some reasons, some money leaks out
of the bank system, that is, money borrowed is not re-deposited in any bank, the
process of credit creation will not be effective.
• The Rate of Interest: Interest rate is a cost of borrowing. If the rate of interest is high,
borrowers are discouraged to borrow more and the process of credit creation is
limited, while if the rate of interest is low, borrowers will be encouraged to borrow
more money and therefore the process of credit creation will be high.
Balance between liquidity and profitability
In pursuit of profits, banks wish to hold the smallest proportion of their assets as possible,
in liquid form. At the same time, financial prudence requires that they hold adequate cash
and other liquid assets to meet the customers’ demand for cash withdrawals; this means
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that banks, as common with all other profit seeking financial institutions, are faced with
conflict between liquidity and profitability.
To reconcile this conflict, commercial banks maintain an efficient portfolio of assets,
starting with the most liquid assets ending with the least liquid assets, as show in figure
3:2, below. The most liquid end of the portfolio comprises non- profitable assets such as
notes and coins, operational balances at the Central Bank. These are followed by short
term liquid assets such as treasury bills. These liquid assets ensure a constant stream of
cash to meet the customers demand for cash withdrawals. The least end of the portfolio
includes high profit assets such as loans to individuals and companies. Such a portfolio
may be illustrated by an inverted pyramid with the most liquid assets at the base, as shown
in figure 3:2 and table 3:2 below. The assets are arranged in descending order of liquidity
and ascending order of profitability.
Advances/Loans 60%
Investments in properties 20%
Profitability
Lending to the 5%
government
Liquidity
Balance at
Central 5%
bank
Cash 10%
Figure 3:2: Arrangement of assets according to liquidity and profitability
In figure 3:2 above, the arrangement of assets is in descending order. The most non-liquid
but most profitable assets such as loans and investments, in properties, are at the top. The
most liquid and least- non profitable assets, such as cash, are at the bottom. This implies
that the most liquid assets yield less or no profit and the least liquid assets, yield high
profit. The arrangement of assets is further illustrated in table 3: 2.
Table 3:2 A sheet of assets of a commercial bank
S/N Asset Value of assets in $ % of total assets
million
1 Notes and Coins 15 15%
2 Balance at Central Bank 5 5%
3 Lending to the 15 15%

the government
4 Investments 25 25%
5 Advances/Loans 40 40%
6 Total 100 100%
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Table 3:2 above, shows that, the commercial bank keeps 15% of its assets in cash balance
(notes and coins) and 5% as balance at the Central Bank, and the remaining 80% in
profitable assets.
Problems which face banks in Tanzania
Banks in Tanzania face many problems shown below:
Embezzlement of funds: There are some untrustworthy bank workers who steal
money from the banks. This affects the financial positions of banks and hinders them
from performing certain functions, such as advancing loans.
Existence of non-performing assets: Banks have some assets which do not generate
income. For example, residential houses for its workers, cars and securities which do
not have dividend or returns.
The government intervention: Before the privatization process of banks, the
government was, from time to time, intervening in the activities of banks and obtain
money from the banks to meet various expenditures and sometimes to meet political
activities, like the elections expenditures. This affected the financial stability of banks
and their ability to make decisions.
Non performing loan: These are the loans which are advanced to individuals and firms
who fail to repay back, thus cause loss to banks.
Low saving habit of the people: Many Tanzanians, for example, do not have the habit
of saving money in banks they prefer holding money in physical assets such as cattle
and land, and holding cash balances instead of banking their cash reserves.
Low level of borrowing: There is low level of borrowing among most Tanzanians due
to reasons such as, lack of securities and low returns on investments.
Low level of trained personnel and technological backwardness: Most of the banks in
Tanzania do not have well trained personnel and equipment like computers. This
affects the working efficiency of the banks.
Privatization of Banks in Tanzania
In 1991, the government of Tanzania passed legislation to liberalise the financial sector in
the country. The aim of the new law was to stimulate financial institutions to operate
commercially, following severe economic problems, which these institutions were facing.
As a result of the legislation, several state owned commercial banks, such as NBC and
CRDB, were privatized. Also, private companies were allowed to engage in non-banking
financial services such as insurance.
The impact of the privatization of banks in Tanzania

Privatization of banks in Tanzania has the following impact:
- There is an increase in the efficiency in the operations of banking activities.
- There is injection of foreign capital.
- Advancement in technology.
- Retrenchment of workers in an attempt of these banks to increase efficiency and
maintain profitability.
- Profitability has increased.
- The government’s burden of giving subsidies has been reduced.
- There is minimal the government intervention
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Non-banks financial institutions (financial intermediaries)

These are institutions that mobilise savings for specific objectives or purposes such as life
assurance, insurance against risks, old age pensions, specific credits etc.
Non-banks mobilize savings through specific agreements/contracts with their members
or credits. For example, the social security institutions, like NSSF, mobilize savings from
their customers who make contributions, through deductions made on their salaries or
wages.
Roles of Non-Banks Financial Intermediaries
Non banks in Tanzania play the following roles:
(i) They tend to supplement the activities of commercial banks through mobilisation of
savings and easy liquidity.
(ii) They stimulate and promote financial and capital market by investing in shares and
securities.
(iii) They invest in physical investments such as buildings
(iv) They too advance credits to entrepreneurs
(v) They help to increase employment to the people.
(vi) They provide social security to the people, in form of life assurance and pensions
Examples of Non-Banks Institutions in Tanzania
1. National Insurance Company (NIC)
NIC was established in 1967 after the nationalization of private owned insurance
companies. The main roles of NIC are as follows:
• Collection of contributions or premium from the members or clients.
• Provision of compensation to their clients against various risks such as fire, car
accidents, theft, life assurance etc. In this case, insurance helps business people to
rejuvenate their business when they face any of the above mentioned risks.
• To invest in productive sectors such as buildings and in shares of various companies.
• Provision of employment to the citizens.
2. National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
NSSF, formerly NPF, was established in 1965 with the main function of mobilizing
contractual savings from employees and paying them back after retirement
Roles of NSSF
NSSF has the following roles:
• Mobilisation of contractual savings from employees.
• Providing social securities to the members by paying them retirement pensions.
• Investing such funds in productive sectors such as housing, for rentals.
• Investing in shares and securities.
3. Karadha Company
This was a subsidiary of the National bank of commerce. It was established to provide
financial facilities to the transport sectors by providing loans to the sector.
4. Diamond Jubilee
Its function was to provide financial assistance to builders and to build houses for renting.
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5. Pride Africa or Pride Tanzania

This institution provides small scale credits to people with low incomes who do small
scale business and do not possess valuable items or assets to act as securities. Pride Africa
Tanzania has been very helpful in promoting the informal sectors of the economy, unlike
commercial banks which provide loans to formal sectors; Pride Africa/Tanzania provides
loans to their members even if they do not have any securities. The security of the loans is
based on the members themselves, that is, each member in a group is a security to another
member in that group. If one member fails to pay back the loan, then the other members
make contributions to pay the amount due for paying the loan, because of this reason,
loans provided by Pride Africa or Pride Tanzania have been attracting many people with
low income.
Privatization of financial institutions in Tanzania
In 1991, the government of Tanzania passed a legislation to liberalise the financial sector
in the country. The aim of the new law was to make financial institutions operate
commercially following severe economic problems, which these institutions were facing.
As a result of the legislation, several state owned commercial banks, such as NBC and
CRDB, were privatized. Also, private companies were allowed to engage in non-banking
financial services such as insurance.
The impact of the privatization of financial institutions
Privatization of financial institutions in Tanzania has the following impact:
(i) There is an increase in the efficiency in the operations of banking activities.
(ii) There is injection of foreign capital.
(iii) Advancement in technology.
(iv) Retrenchment of workers in an attempt of these institutions to increase efficiency and
maintain profitability.
(v) Profitability has increased.
(vi) The government’s burden of giving subsidies has been reduced.
(vii) There is minimal the government intervention.
Review Questions
1. What is a financial institution?
2. Differentiate between banking and non-banking financial institutions.
3. What is central Bank
4. Consider the roles of the commercial banks.
5. Discuss the roles of non-banks financial institutions
6. Describe the external monetary management functions of the Central Bank.
7. How do savings banks differ from commercial banks?
8. How does the Central Bank control money supply in the economy?
9. Explain the effects of privatisation of banks in Tanzania
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CHAPTER FOUR
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Meaning of the Terms

1. Marketing
It is the whole process of financing, storing, transporting, grading, distributing and
advertising commodities to the market.
2. Distribution
In this context, distribution refers to the process of transferring commodities from where
they are produced to where they are needed for consumption.
Marketing and Distribution in Tanzania
In Tanzania, marketing and distribution is done by different institutions, including both
private and public institutions. Examples of these institutions are co-operative societies,
marketing boards, board of internal trade, board of external trade and private crop buyers.
A co-operative
Is an association of people who join voluntarily with some common economic and social
interests to achieve certain objectives.
Types of Co-operatives
Co-operatives can be divided as follows:
(a) According to Membership Registration

Co-operatives which fall under this category include:
(i) Primary co-operatives
(ii) Secondary co-operative societies
(iii) National co-operative societies
(iv) International co-operative societies
(b) According to their Services

Co-operatives which fall under this category are:
(i) Marketing Co-operative societies
(ii) Savings and Credit Co-operative societies
(iii) Consumer Co-operative societies
(iv) Transport Co-operative societies
(v) Handcraft Co-operative societies
(vii) Multipurpose Co-operative societies
(viii) Farm production Co-operative societies
Co-operative Marketing Societies

These are the types of co-operative societies which are involved in the marketing of
agricultural products.
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Roles of Co-operative Marketing Societies

Co-operative marketing societies play the following roles:
• They improve the production of agricultural products by providing inputs such as
fertilizers to the peasants.
• They increase the bargaining power of the peasants.
• They conduct market research for the agricultural crops.
• They market peasants’ produce.
• They provide social services to members. For example, building of schools.
Problems facing co-operatives societies
Co-operative societies face the following problems:
- Inadequate and unskilled manpower
- Lack of funds to pay farmers
- Shortage of transportation facilities
- Poor quality of crops from peasants
- Unpaid debts from peasants
- Shortage of transportation facilities
- Misuse and embezzlement of funds
- Corruption
- Lack of proper management skills
Marketing Boards
The following are some of the marketing boards in Tanzania:
(i) Cotton marketing board
(ii Coffee marketing board
(iii) Cashew nut marketing board
Roles of Marketing Boards
Marketing boards play the following roles:
• Buying Produce: Marketing boards guarantee that all produce brought to them will be
bought by the board, at an agreed price, provided it meets the specifications laid
down by the board. The objective of marketing boards is not to make profit out of
their activities but to help the farmers. They, therefore, offer the best possible price.
The price is, in many cases, decided by the government upon advice from the
marketing board concerned and represents the true value of the produce in prevailing
circumstances. Except in very few cases, farmers are permitted to sell their produce
directly to the processor, if they find the board's prices unacceptable.
The marketing board buys produce through three channels. Large-scale farmers
can sell directly to the board. Small-scale farmers can sell through either their
respective co-operative societies or a buying agent, appointed by the board. Buying
agents and co-operative societies are paid a commission for their services.
• Collection and storage: In most cases, the produce is collected by the board from the
farm where it grows and stores it in warehouses. By so doing, it relieves the farmers
of transport problems and enables the board to carry out the necessary inspection
before it buys the lot.
• Assistance to farmers: Marketing boards offer assistance to farmers in various forms.
They pay the farmers on the spot, i.e. before the produce is needed by the true
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consumers. Other services offered by the boards include providing: fertilizers,

pesticides, farming tools, etc. at reduced prices. They also supply best quality seeds,
bags and other packing materials at low cost and also advance loans to farmers to buy
agricultural equipment so as to improve their production.
• Research: Most marketing boards, or advisory boards where applicable, spend
considerable amounts of money each year on research into agricultural and marketing
problems. Large boards have their own research centres where various methods of
growing crops, improving the quality of the produce, etc, are developed. Other boards
contribute to the establishment or running costs of independent or the government
research for the farmers by publishing booklets, brochures, etc. or by showing films
through mobile film units. The board’s personnel also visit farmers and offer useful
advice.
• Control of production: As a marketing board in most cases, it is obliged to buy all that is
offered to it. It is important that it takes suitable steps to avoid over-production of
certain commodities to stabilize price. Marketing boards often establish quotas for
various co-operative societies. Any produce brought in excess of that quota is
rejected.
• Selling produce: Marketing boards may sell the produce to local processors or auction it
for export. In the former case, the price charged by the board to the processors is
determined by the government. This ensures that the consumer is not exploited. In
the latter case, the board holds auctions which are attended by interested foreign
buyers, in which the produce is sold to the highest bidder.
Problems facing marketing boards in Tanzania
Marketing boards in Tanzania face the following problems:
- The government interference: Marketing boards are not wholly independent; they are
sometimes being interfered with by the government; in some decisions such as price
fixing.
- Price fluctuations in the world market: Prices of agricultural products in the world market
tend to fluctuate. This causes complaints of peasants against marketing boards.
- Problem of overproduction of crops: Sometimes farmers overproduce agricultural products
and cause problems of marketing.
- Untimely payment to farmers: In most cases, marketing boards fail to pay farmers on time
due to lack of funds.
- Low demand of crops in international markets: Crops marketed by marketing boards may
have low demand in the world market due to low quality and oversupply.
- Competition from private buyers: Following the privatisation of marketing of crops in the
country, marketing boards are faced with a stiff competition from private buyers who
are sometimes more efficient and offer better prices.
Board of Internal Trade (BIT)
The board of internal trade was established by the act of parliament in 1973 to replace the
state trading company. Some of the companies which are under the board of internal
trade are:
(i) National pharmaceutical company
(ii) Regional trading companies
(iii) Agricultural and industrial company
(iv) Biashara and trading company
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(v) Household company

(vi) Biashara consumer’s services
(vii) Dar es Salaam textile company
(viii)Building hardware and electrical company
(ix) General food company
Note: Most of these companies have been privatised.
Functions of the Board of Internal Trade
The board of internal trade performs the following functions:
• Setting and revising internal trade policies.
• Conducting market research.
• Supervising and coordinating internal trade activities.
• Supervising, designing the accounting and operating systems.
• Staff recruitment.
• Providing consultancy to the companies under it.
Board of External Trade (BET)
It is a board established to promote external trade
Roles of the Board of External Trade
The board of external trade performs the following functions:
(i) Conducting market research.
(ii) Providing trade information to exporters.
(iii) Training of personnel in foreign trade.
(iv) Consultancy service in product adaptation, packaging, costing and pricing.
(v) Formulation of export strategies.
(vi) Providing export publicity.
(vii) Participating in trade fairs outside the country.
(viii) Organising of trade fairs in the country.
Private Crop Buyers
After adopting trade liberalization policy, private crop buyers have been allowed to
purchase cash crops directly from the peasants, and several companies have been
registered to engage in buying and selling cash crops. These companies buy crops directly
from the farmers.
Advantages of Private Crop Buyers
Advantages of private crop buyers are as follows:
(i) It has increased competition in the buying of crops which, in some cases, has led to
increase in the prices of the crops.
(ii) It has reduced bureaucracy in buying crops, because private crop buyers buy directly
from the peasants and therefore increase efficiency in buying the crops.
(iii) It has reduced the debt burden that peasants were shouldering through co-
operatives.
(iv) Most of the private buyers provide incentives to peasants
(v) Private crop buyers have been buying crops on cash basis, unlike co-operatives
which used to purchase on credit.
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(vi) It has reduced the burden of the government of providing subsidies to the co-
operatives.
(vii) Delay in purchasing and payment to peasants has been reduced, peasants sell their
crops on time and payments are usually done on the spot.
Disadvantages of Private Crop Buyers
Private crop buyers have the following demerits:
• Weak supporting infrastructure needed for marketing crops, such as vehicles and
stores, in rural areas.
• Poor support to peasants. Most of the private crop buyers do not provide inputs to
the peasants as co-operatives used to do.
• In some areas, private buyers have been forming joint ventures in order to control the
prices and therefore buy crops at low prices.
• Competition in buying crops has, in some cases, led to the drop in the quality of the
crops, since, in some instances; peasants are enticed to sell crops prematurely in order
to make quick money.
• The bargaining power of the peasant is weakened because the peasant cannot
influence the price of the commodities alone.
• In some areas, the existence of private buyers has reduced the strength of co-
operative societies.
• Private crop buying has created a big excitement of making quick money among the
residents of rural areas; this has led to an increase in theft of crops in some areas.
• Private crop buyers sometimes lead to instability of income among the peasants when
they purchase crops even in small amounts, which earn peasants little money.
• Since private crop buying was permitted it has been observed that companies have
been making little efforts to develop production of crops.
Transport and communication
Meaning of Transportation
Transport is the physical transfer of both goods and services or people from one place to
another place.
Elements of Transport
There are four elements of transport:
(a) The way: Goods must move on something such as water, land or air. This is called the
way. Ways may be natural like the sea, the air or lakes; or man-made like roads, railway
tracks or bridges. Natural ways are free; they cost nothing to acquire or maintain but
are not always available. For example, Uganda has no sea touching her borders. Man-
made or artificial ways cost large sums of money to construct and to maintain. But, in
most cases, these costs are borne by the government which of course gets money by
imposing taxes on the citizens. Thus, these costs are paid by the people indirectly.
(b) Unit of carriage: These are the vehicles which carry goods or passengers; they may be
trucks, lorries, trains, ships or aeroplanes. These are referred to as units of carriage.
(c) Method of propulsion: A unit of carriage must be driven by some forces or power.
Common methods of propulsion are the petrol engine, jet engine and electric motor.
The choice of the method depends on the size of the vehicle, speed desired and the
fuel available.
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(d) Terminals: Goods must be loaded and off-loaded somewhere. These places are called
terminals. Often, a terminal of one unit of carriage is the starting point of another
vehicle. For example, a railway station marks the end of the journey of goods by train.
Types/forms of Transport
There are three main forms of transport - land, water and air.
Land Transport
This includes the following forms: human portage, animal transport, road transport, railways
transport and pipeline.
1. Human Portage
This is the most common type of transport used by the majority of the people in various
parts of the world. This is because most parts of the world are remote; severely lack
capital and skills to put in place the modern methods of transport. A person who carries
things is called a porter.
Advantages of Human Portage
Human portage has the following advantages:
• It can be used where other forms of modern transport cannot be used. For instance, in
the mountainous or swampy areas.
• It is readily available on demand.
• The cost of hire is low.
Disadvantages of Human Portage
Human portage has the following advantages:
- It is slow
- Laborious to the users.
- It is limited to some types of goods and cannot transport large cargo.
2. Animal Transport
This is the form of transport which involves the use of animals. It is not so well
developed in many parts of the world. It is commonly used in those areas which are wild
and hostile such that other means of transport are hard or difficult to use. The animals
that are commonly used may include camels, donkeys, horses, cattle, dogs etc. Animals
can be used for riding, as well as carrying or pulling loads.
Advantages of Animal Transport
Animal transport has the following advantages:
• Animals are quicker than human beings.
• They carry heavier and larger loads than human beings.
• Animals are capable of being used in adverse (hard or hostile) conditions like deserts
and waterlogged regions.
• It is relatively cheap and more developed than human portage.
Disadvantages of Animal Transport
Animal transport has the following disadvantages:
- Cannot transport bulky cargo
- Cannot transport over long distances
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- It is slower than vehicles.

3. Road Transport
Road transport involves the use of vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles. In Tanzania and
East Africa at large, road transport is the most important and it will continue to play a
vital role in the economic development of the East African countries.
Advantages of Road Transport
Road transport has the following advantages:
• Road transport is flexible. It can be constructed in many places and can serve even
individual homesteads.
• Road transport offers a variety of transport facilities; giving transporter a wider choice
of the type of facilities to use. For example, the facilities can be trucks, taxis, buses
etc.
• It is faster and cheaper at shorter distances.
• It is suitable for delivering perishable goods, e.g. vegetables, milk, fruits and so on for
short distances.
• Road are easy to construct and run compared to railway or air transport.
• Vehicles that move on the roads do not need to run on time schedule like trains and
planes. However, schedule may be involved at a minimal extent with buses.
Disadvantages (Short Comings) of Road Transport
Road transport has the following disadvantages:
- It handles a specific and limited amount of goods.
- Usually, heavy loaded lorries are too slow to cover up the expected distance in time.
- It is too risky, especially for delicate goods. It can cause breakage or destruction of
goods like computers and glass materials, hence causing a great loss.
- Weather conditions tend to disrupt road transport, especially during the rainy season.
It is highly susceptible to attacks by highway robbers on the way.
- Road transport has led to an increase of road accidents, leading to the loss of lives of
many people
- When there is congestion (traffic jam), road transport causes delays to users.
- Transport facilities have contributed to air and water pollution in the world.
- Construction of roads encourages land degradation.
4. Railways Transport
This involves the carrying of goods and passengers by train. Today, railways transport has
become an important means of transporting bulky goods. This has been a result of the
rapid industrial development in various parts of the world, where bulky raw materials and
finished products have to be transported for long distances to their destinations.
Advantages of Railways Transport
Railway transport has the following advantages:
• It is suitable and relatively cheap for transporting bulky commodities or goods over
long distances
• It is less affected by unpredictable weather conditions, if well constructed
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• Once the railway has been constructed, its maintenance costs are relatively low and
hence freight charges are usually lower, over long distances, than those charged by the
roads, for most commodities.
• More loads and a great number of people may be transported at a single journey
compared to road and air transport systems.
Disadvantages of Railways Transport
Railway transport has the following disadvantages:
- The railways are expensive to build. A lot of money is required to lay down the lines
and all other facilities such as stations, warehouses etc.
- It is not flexible like road transport. Only areas with railway lines can be served. Also,
door-to door service cannot be undertaken and it is also not good for perishable
goods like milk and vegetables, or goods which are urgently needed like medicine,
daily newspapers etc.
- Railways transport is mostly inefficient and time conserving especially in the
developing world, where train services are too slow and backward. Because it strictly
adheres to time schedule, sometimes it may cause some inconveniences and delays.
Rail transport is a bit costly in terms of equipment, rail setting and purchasing the
train and maintenance. The gauges of the railway lines vary from one place to another.
In some places, the gauges range from 1.5 - 1.7 metres while others have gauges that
are as narrow as 1 metre. Many parts of Africa have narrow gauges.
5. Pipelines
These are types of pipes constructed to transport liquid materials such as oil. An example
of a pipeline is the TAZAMA pipeline, which is jointly owned by TANZANIA and
ZAMBIA, and it transports oil from Dar es Salaam to Ndola, in Zambia.
Advantages of Pipelines
Pipelines have the following advantages:
• They are economical since it involves low cost of operation and maintenance.
• They are not affected by unfavourable weather conditions.
• They can cover long distances.
• They can carry large volume of goods.
• They are very reliable.
Disadvantages of Pipelines
Pipelines have the following disadvantages:
- The risks of destruction are very high.
- In case of accidents, enormous damage can occur.
- They cannot be effective in mountainous areas.
- In case of leakage, they can cause environment hazards.
- They cannot carry solid goods.
- Initial costs of construction are very high.
Water Transport
This is the type of transport by using water; it is divided into two main groups, namely;
(i) Inland water transport: This includes transport by rivers, lakes and canals.
(ii) Ocean water transport: This includes transport by using oceans.
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Advantages of Water Transport

Water transport has the following advantages:
It is cheaper than other means of transport since there are no costs which are involved
in constructing water ways, as it is for roads and railways.
It transports heavy and bulky loads over long distances.
It is suitable for transporting fragile goods.
The risks of accidents are less than other means of transports.
It is economical for transporting large quantity goods than other means of transport.
Disadvantages of Water Transport
Water transport has the following disadvantages:
- It is inflexible, since it cannot be used in areas where there are no water bodies.
- It is uneconomical when the quantity of goods is small.
- Delay in delivery due to the slow speed of the ships.
- It is unsuitable for carrying passengers over long distances.
- The amount of loss, in case of accidents is greater than other means of transports.
Air Transport
It is a transport by using Aeroplanes.
Advantages of Air Transport
Air transport has the following advantages:
• It is the fastest means of transport.
• Risks of damage are low.
• It is free from physical barriers, such as mountains and oceans.
• It is comfortable and less tiresome.
• It can be used over very long distances.
Disadvantages of Air Transport
Air transport has the following disadvantages:
- It is limited on the quantity of goods.
- It is less reliable during bad weather conditions.
- It is inflexible, since it cannot be used where there are no airports.
- It is the most expensive means of transport.
- The costs of buying and maintenance of aeroplanes is very high.
- In case of accidents, the effects are always fatal.
Factors for choosing Mode of Transport
The following factors are considered before choosing the mode of transport to use.
- The nature of goods to be transported whether fragile, perishable or durable
- The weight of the goods
- The bulkiness of the goods
- The cost of transportation
- The speed and urgency
- The distance.
- The available transport links
- The means available
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Communication
Communication is the transmission of information from one point or person to another
point or person. Transport and communication are related since, through transport,
information can move from one place or person to another.
Means of Communication
There are various types or means of communication.
(a) Oral communication: This involves communication through the following means, such
as the telephone, radio, gestures etc.
(b) Written communication: This involves communication by using the following means,
such as letters, parcels, postcards, telegrams, e-mails etc.
(c) Visual communication: This includes means such as charts, photographs, films etc.
Roles of Transport and Communication in the Economy
Transport and communication play the following roles:
(i) They create market for goods and services
(ii) They make mass production possible by ensuring market for the goods produced.
(iii) They make goods available where they are needed for consumption
(iv) They bridge the gap between producers and consumers
(v) They make easy transaction between producers, sellers and consumers.
(vi) They increase the mobility of labour.
(vii) They create employment to the people.
(viii) It enables producers to have access to inputs, such as raw -materials, from different
areas.
(ix) Transport and communication enhances the attainment of place utility.
(x) Technology can easily be transferred from one area to another through transport and
communication.
(xi) Trade information is possible through communication; therefore, communication
leads to an increase in the volume of trade.
(xii) Transport and communication facilitates the development of other economic
sectors, such as industries and agriculture.
Problems Facing Transport and Communication in Tanzania
Transport and communication face the following problems:
Frequent accidents.
Poor roads which are impassable.
Shortage of capital to purchase and operate vehicles.
Unskilled personnel.
High running costs such as hiked price of oil and spare parts.
Large initial capital outlays
Small quantity of goods to transport makes some means of transport, such as air and
railways, uneconomical.
The remoteness of some regions makes it difficult to have access to such areas.
Bad weather conditions destroy the means of transport and affect travelling.
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Review Questions
1. What is marketing and distribution?
2. Discuss the roles of co-operatives in marketing and distribution.
3. Explain the roles of marketing boards.
4. Discuss the merits and demerits of private crop buying and selling.
5. Describe the roles of the Board of External Trade.
6. “The Board of Internal Trade is irrelevant to the current economic situation in
Tanzania.
7. Differentiate between transport and communication.
8. Examine the problems which affect transport and communication in Tanzania”
Discuss.
9. Discuss the roles of transport and communication in the economy.
10. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of air transport
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CHAPTER FIVE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
International trade is a trade among nations. It involves selling and buying goods and
services to and from abroad respectively. Selling abroad is known as exporting, and buying
from abroad is known as importing.
Reasons for Foreign Trade
Trade among nations exists due to the following reasons:
(a) Differences in Natural Resources
Some countries may have certain natural resources such as minerals and fertile soil, while
other countries have different natural resources such as oil reserves. Therefore, there is a
need to exchange the goods which are produced by these natural resources. For example,
the Arabic countries have natural oil reserves while the African countries have fertile soil.
Therefore, African countries produce and export agricultural products to the Arabic
countries; in return, the Arabic countries produce and export oil to most of the African
countries.
(b) Gain from Trade
Another reason for the existence of international trade is gain from trade. Countries earn
revenues and profit by engaging in international trade.
(c) Differences in Human Skills
Citizens of different countries have different skills. These differences in the skills result in
differences in the types of commodities which are produced, thus necessitate the need for
exchange of commodities among countries. For example, Tanzania has people who are
very skilful in making carvings, while America, Japan and European countries have people
with skills in industrial manufacturing. Therefore, Tanzania is able to produce and export
carvings to these countries, and in turn import manufactured goods from the same
countries.
(d) Uneven distribution of capital and technology
Capital and technology are unevenly distributed among countries. Therefore, the countries
without enough capital and technology are forced to import goods from the countries
with the capital and the technical capacity of producing goods. For example, most African
countries are faced with the problem of lacking the capital and technology to produce
goods, there is hence a need to engage in international trade so as to export the raw
materials and import the manufactured goods such as cloth, cars, electronic equipment,
etc.
Theories of absolute advantage and comparative cost
Principle of Absolute Advantage
This principle was advanced by Adam Smith. It states that, "If a nation is more efficient
than another nation in the production of a certain commodity, i.e. uses fewer resources,
but is less efficient than another nation in the production of a commodity, then both
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nations can gain by each nation specializing in the production of a commodity of its
absolute advantage".
Specialization results in the following:
(i) Full utilization of resources in both nations
(ii) Increase in output in both nations
(iii) Both countries will gain from exchange
Assumptions of the principle of Absolute Advantage
The principle of absolute advantage has the following assumptions:
• Assumes two nations and two commodities
• There is free trade
• There is no transport cost
• Factors of production are perfectly mobile
• No technological differences between the two countries
• Labour is homogeneous in both the two countries
• Labour theory of value, i.e. the value of a commodity is exclusively determined by the
amount of labour expended during in the production of the commodity.
• Perfect competition situation
Table 5.1: Example of absolute advantage
Cost (labour) of producing one unit of output
Commodity
Country Cars Sisal
Tanzania 30 (Labour units) 10 (Labour units)
USA 10 (Labour units) 20 (Labour units)
In table 5:1 above, USA has an absolute advantage in the production of cars, because it
uses few resources in its production, but absolute disadvantage in the production of sisal
because it uses more resources in its production. On the other hand, Tanzania has an
absolute advantage in the production of sisal, because it uses fewer resources in its
production and an absolute disadvantage in the production of cars because it uses more
resources in its production.
Reasons
• 10 units of labour, in the USA, can produce one unit of cars, but 20 units of labour to
produce one unit of sisal.
• 10 units of labour, in Tanzania, can produce one unit of sisal, but 30 units of labour
are needed to produce one unit of cars.
According to the absolute advantage theory, both nations will gain if:
- USA specializes in the production of cars
- Tanzania specializes in the production of sisal
Comparative Advantage Principle or the Principle of Comparative Cost
This principle was advanced by David Ricardo.
"It states that even if one nation is less efficient in the production of both commodities,
i.e. uses more resources to produce, and another nation is more efficient in the production
of both commodities, i.e. uses less resources, still there is basis for mutual beneficial trade
between the two nations. Each nation will benefit by specializing in the production and
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export of the commodity which the relative cost and opportunity cost of producing is
lower, and imports the commodity which the relative cost and opportunity cost of
producing is higher".
Table 5.2: An example of comparative advantage
Country Units of labour required to produce
1 barrel of maize I bolt of cloth
Kenya 90 60
Tanzania 30 30
In table 5:2 above, Tanzania has absolute advantage in the production of both
commodities, since; it takes fewer units of labour to produce both products than does
Kenya, but by looking into internal cost ratios of each country, and Tanzania has absolute
advantage in both the production of maize and cloth. However, her absolute advantage is
greater in maize production than cloth (90/30 > 60/30). She can out-produce Kenya by
3:1 in maize and only 2:1 in cloth. A greater absolute advantage, such as Tanzania has in
maize, is called comparative advantage. Kenya is at absolute disadvantage in both maize
and cloth, but it is at a lesser absolute disadvantage in cloth (60/30 < 90/30), in which
Tanzanians out produce it only by 2:1. A lesser absolute disadvantage is also called a
comparative advantage. Thus, Kenya has a comparative advantage in cloth production and
can gain from trading its cloth for Tanzania’s maize.
Criticisms against the Principle of Comparative Advantage and Absolute
Advantage
They assume that there are two nations and two commodities. This assumption is
unrealistic because nations produce more than one Commodity
Transport costs are involved in international trade.
The labour theory of value is invalid.
Labour is not the only factor of production.
Labour is not homogeneous.
The distribution of gains is not even as explained by theory.
Application of the Principle of Comparative Advantage
The principle of comparative advantage has the following applications:
- It provides the basis of trade between nations and sets the rates of exchange between
the two commodities.
- It leads to balance of payments between the two trading nations.
- It enhances specialization of production between two nations.
- It encourages free trade.
Terms in International Trade
Visible Trade
This is the trade on physical goods that can be touched and seen such as television, radio,
cloth, food etc.
Invisible Trade
This is a trade on invisible items like services, technology, consultancy, banking, insurance,
health, education, transport etc.
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Balance of Trade
This is the difference between the value of export goods (visible exports) and the value of
import goods (visible imports).
Balance of trade = Total value of exports - Total value of imports
Balance of trade can be favourable, unfavourable or balanced.
(a) Favourable Balance of Trade
Balance of trade is said to be favourable when the value of exports of visible trade is
greater than the value of imports of visible trade.
Favourable balance of trade: Exports (visible) >Import (visible)
(b) Unfavourable Balance of Trade
Balance of trade is said to be unfavourable when the value of visible imports is greater
than the value of visible exports.
(c) Balanced Balance of Trade
Balance of trade is said to be balanced when the value of visible exports of a country is
equal to the value of visible imports.
Balance of Payments
This is the difference between the receipts (earnings) of a country from abroad and the
payments of a country to abroad. It can also be defined as the systematic record of a
country's transactions with the rest of the world.
Balance of payments can be favourable, unfavourable or balanced.
(i) Favourable balance of payments: Balance of payments is said to favourable when the
country's receipts from abroad are greater than the country's payments to abroad.
(ii) Unfavourable balance of payments: Balance of payments is said to be unfavourable when
the country's payments to abroad are greater than the country's receipts from abroad.
(iii) Balanced balance of payments: Balance of payments is said to be balanced when the
country's receipts from abroad are equal to the country's payments to abroad.
Major Accounts in the Balance of Payments
Balance of payments has the following major accounts:
• Goods and services accounts: This deals with the systematic record of payments to
foreigners in a specific period of time.
• Unilateral transfers: This records things such as grants and gifts
• Long term capital account: This records inward and outward flow of capital.
• Short term capital: This deals with the financial flows to finance trade, exchange rates
and interest rates.
• Unrecorded transactions: This deals with recording of omitted transactions, i.e.
transactions which have not been captured in other accounts.
• Official reserves transaction balance accounts: This deals with the final balance, it may be
positive or negative.
These accounts can be divided into the following two main accounts:
(i) Current account
(ii) Capital account
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(i) Current account

This records the country’s visible and invisible exports, on one side, and visible and
invisible imports, on the other side.
(ii) Capital account
This deals with the record of inflow and outflow of capital from abroad in form of loans
or grants.
Table 5.3: A Hypothetical Example of a Balance of Payment Account
Receipts in Tshs. (Millions) Payments in Tshs. (Millions)
Items Amount Items Amount
1.Visible exports 2 1.Visible imports 5
2.Invisible exports 1 2.Invisible imports 2
3.Loans 3 3.Repayment of loans 6
4.Grants 1 4.Expenditures by Embassies 2
5.Gifts 1 5.Payments to foreigners 1
Balancing item 8
16 16
Disequilibrium in the Balance of Payments (Deficit in the Balance of Payments)

The balance of payments is said to be in disequilibrium when the total payments to abroad
is greater than the total receipts from abroad.
Causes of Disequilibrium in the Balance of Payments
Disequilibrium in the balance of payment is a result of the following factors:
• Low exports: Disequilibrium in the balance of payments can result due to low demand
elasticity for a country's exports, and decline in the supply of goods for exports.
• Increase in the demand for imports: The demand for imports can increase due to low
production of essential goods in the domestic economy.
• Unfavourable terms of trade: When the price of exports fall while that of imports rise, it
leads to a decline in the amount of receipts from abroad and an increase in the
amount of payments to abroad.
• Shortage of capital goods: Less developed countries are faced with the problem shortage
of capital goods. They are forced to import this capital from abroad. This causes
disequilibrium in the balance of payments.
• Devaluation policy: Sometimes devaluation policy, which is adopted by a country, may
result in the deficit in the balance of payments. This occurs when the country's
exports have low price elasticity, and when the imports have inelastic demand or
when other countries which export similar products also devalue their currencies.
• Unfavourable climatic condition: Unfavourable weather conditions lead to a fall in
agricultural production and consequently in the country's exports, hence deficit in the
balance of payments.
Correction of the Deficit in the Balance of Payments
The following methods of correcting the deficit balance of payments may be adopted:
- Promotion of exports: The government can promote exports by providing subsidies to
exporters, tax exemptions and trade fairs.
- Reducing expenditures on imports: The government can discourage imports by imposing
high import tariffs.
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- Devaluation policy: A country can reduce the value of its currency in order to promote
exports and discourage imports. When the currency is devalued, exports become
cheaper while imports become more expensive.
- Increase production: Another method of correcting a deficit is to increase the production
of both export and import goods.
- International co-operation: There are efforts which are internationally made by institutions,
such as International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and World Trade Organization,
to correct disequilibrium in the balance of payments.
- Financial assistance from donor countries: A country can improve its balance of payments
position by getting financial assistance from abroad donor countries.
Effects of a Persistent Deficit in the Balance of Payments

A deficit in the balance of payments has the following effects:
(i) A persistent deficit may imply a fundamental lack of competitiveness and failure in
the country's export trade. Poor export performance could be attributed to
international competition, inappropriate commodities, technological retardation or an
over-valued currency. These factors call for the government’s action.
(ii) A persistent current account deficit usually implies an increasing reliance on imports
by both the producers and the consumers in a given country. This may hinder the
development of domestic industries, which would have probably had the capacity to
produce some of the inputs being imported. The level of imports increases as income
rises because of the import dependency that has developed.
(iii) In the case of a persistent deficit, a financing problem may eventually arise as foreign
currency reserves are depleted, and loan arrangements with foreign the governments
and other lending institutions become increasingly difficult to obtain.
(iv) A persistent current account deficit may also lead to a need to invoke domestic policy
constraints, such as deflationary measures, devaluation or import controls, which may
have adverse side effects.
A persistent current account surplus usually indicates fundamental
competitiveness of a country's exports, and hence, to some extent, its success as a
trading nation. The firms in the country with a surplus in the balance of payments
have products whose prices and quality are competitive.
The existence of current account surplus is likely to strengthen the domestic
currency of the country with the surplus, and hence cheaper imports which may have
a positive impact on the standard of living. However, persistent surpluses may also
be problematic in the following ways:
• Such surpluses imply that the trading partners will be in deficit and may have the
associated difficulties of financing their deficits. As a result, such deficit trading
partner may impose import restrictions such as tariffs or quotas.
• Trade surpluses also create additional income in the economy which could
contribute to inflationary pressures through an increase in the money supply.
• Persistent surpluses also contribute to an appreciation of the exchange rate of the
country experiencing the surplus, thereby making exports relatively expensive and
imports relatively cheaper. In the long term, the surplus could thus adversely
affect the international competitiveness of the country experiencing the surplus.
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Terms of trade
Terms of trade is the ratio between the price index of exports and the price index of
imports. It is expressed as follows:
price index of export
Terms of trade = × 100
price index of import
Measurement of Terms of Trade

In its simplest and most direct form, terms of trade index is the ratio of the price index of
export to the price index of imports. For any country, export price index can be calculated
by selecting a representative group of export goods, and determining the weighted average
of their prices. A base year is also selected, and usually the index number of the base year
is 100. For the following years, the weighted average price for the same group of export
goods is calculated, and the index number for each year is expressed as a percentage of the
original year's number (100).
Thus, if 2003, is the base year (index = 100) and in 2004, the weighted average price
of the export goods is 50% higher than the 2003 price, the index for 2004, will be 150.
A country's import price index can be calculated by using representative import goods
rather than export goods as the relevant data. Its terms of trade index is simply its export
price index divided by its import price index and multiplied by 100, or
Px
Terms of trade = × 100
Pm
Example
Suppose that, from 1985 to 1999, the export price index of Tanzania rose from 100 to 140
and the import price index rose from 100 to 160. Tanzania's terms of trade obviously
worsened, because the weighted average price of its exports increased by less than the
weighted average price of its imports. This is reflected as a decline in its terms of trade
index. Using the formula just given, we have
100
TOT1 = × 100 = 100,
100
140
And TOT2 = × 100 = 87.5
160
Where TOT1 is the terms of trade for Tanzania in 1985 and TOT2 is the terms of trade in
1999.The index shows that a given amount of Tanzania exports would buy only 87.5 as
much in imports, in 1999, as it would in 1985. Alternatively, we can say that, in 1999,
Tanzania had to export a larger physical output of her goods to buy the same amount of
foreign goods that they imported in 1985.
Different Ways of Measuring Terms of Trade

The following are some of the ways of measuring terms of trade:
(i) Net Barter or Commodity Terms of Trade
This is the ratio between the price index of exports and the price index of imports.
price index of export
Terms of trade Net barter = × 100
price index of imports
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(ii) Income Terms of Trade or Capacity to Import

This is the ratio between the product of the price index of export and the quantity of
export to the price index of imports times 100
PxQx
Terms of trade Capacity to import = × 100
Pm
Where;
Vx
Qx =
Px
Px = Export price index
Pm = Import price index
Qx = Quantity of exports
Vx = Volume of exports
(iii) Gross Barter Terms of Trade
This is the ratio of the quantity index of exports to quantity index of imports times 100.
Qx
Gross barter terms of trade = X100
Qm
Where;
Qm = Quantity of imports
Qx = Quantity of exports
Determinants of Terms of Trade
Terms of trade can be affected by the following factors:
(a) Tariffs on imports: When the importing country imposes tariffs on its imports, it causes
an increase in the price of the imports, and thus leads to fall in demand and price of
these imports.
(b) Import Quota: When a country imposes quantitative restrictions on another country's
exports, it causes fall in the price of exports of the exporting country.
(c) Subsidization of exports: When one country gives subsidies to producers of its exports, it
may cause fall in demand and decline in demand for other countries' exports.
(d) Degree of monopolization in the world market: When producers of a certain commodity in
the world market form cartels, such as OPEC, they use such cartels to control the
supply and the price of the commodity. This leads to deterioration in the terms of
trade of countries which import the commodity.
(e) Market forces: This is the most important factor for determining the terms of trade of a
country. If the demand for a country's exports increase while the demand for imports
decline, the country may experience a favourable terms of trade, but if the demand for
a country's exports decline while the demand for imports increase, the country will
experience deteriorating terms of trade.
(f) Exchange rate policy of a country: Exchange rate policy of a country, such as devaluation,
can affect the terms of trade. For example, if the government devalues its currency,
the price of exports falls while those of imports increase. This leads to unfavourable
terms of trade.
(g) Market situation: This can affect the terms of trade, if a commodity is traded in a
market situation in which a country is the price taker, therefore, the terms of trade for
the country will be unfavourable.
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Reasons for Deteriorating Terms of Trade in Less Developed Countries

Terms of trade in less developed countries deteriorate due to the following reasons:
(i) Low price elasticity of the less developed countries’ products: Less developed countries produce
primary products which have low price elasticity, while developed countries produce
manufactured goods which have high price elasticity.
(ii) Discovery of synthetic materials in developed countries: In developed countries, manufacturers
have discovered artificial or man-made materials, such as nylon and plastic, to
substitute with raw-materials such as sisal and cotton. These discoveries contribute to
the fall in the demand and price of the primary products that are produced by less
developed countries.
(iii) Raw-materials saving technology: It is the technical progress aimed at economising the use
of raw-materials in each item manufactured, so as to reduce the production costs per
unit. An example of such technology is the recycling of bi-products whereby waste
products are converted into useful materials to produce other products. Therefore,
such a technology reduces the demand for the raw-materials from less developed
countries.
(iv) Import substitution industries in developed countries: The price and demand for commodities
from less developed countries is declining due to establishments of import
substitution industries in developed countries, which produce commodities that were
formerly imported from less developed countries.
(v) Diminishing returns and limited supply of land: In less developed countries, land
productivity is declining, and due to the decline in the productivity of land, these
countries so as are forced to import even food products from developed countries to
supplement the deficit in food production. Such increase in the demand for imports
increases the prices of imports hence a deteriorating terms of trade.
(vi) Technical progress in developed countries and low technical progress in less developed countries: In
developed countries, due to technical progress, manufacturers produce goods of high
quality at low cost. In less developed countries, manufacturers produce goods at a
high cost but of low quality, as a result of applying poor technology. This situation
influences consumers in less developed countries to prefer imported goods than
home produced goods. At the same time, locally produced goods fall short of demand
in the export market due to their poor quality. A low demand leads to a fall in their
price hence to unfavourable terms of trade.
(vii) Monopoly power of primary producers, such as OPEC: Oil exporting countries (OPEC) has a
monopoly power in the supply of oil in the world market. Such monopoly power
causes terms of trade in less developed countries to deteriorate, because OPEC
members agree to reduce the supply of oil in order to push up prices of the
commodity, and as a result, less developed countries are forced to give large part of
their exports in exchange for a smaller unit of oil. Therefore, the terms of trade for
less developed countries deteriorate.
Remedies for Deteriorating Terms of Trade in Less Developing Countries
In order to solve deteriorating terms of trade, less developed countries can apply the
following measures:
• Import control: A country can control unfavourable terms of trade by discouraging
imports through import control measures, such as tariffs and import quota. These
control measures result in a fall in the demand for imports and increase in the
demand for locally produced goods.
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• Export promotion: A country can correct deteriorating terms of trade by promoting the
exportation of goods. Promotion of exports can be done by advertising the products
in the world market, reducing export tariffs and providing incentives to exporters.
Such measures boost the demand for these products and thus, help to increase the
price and correct the deteriorating terms of trade.
• Economic integration: Economic integration remove trade barriers and promote the
market for the commodities of the member countries, thus enable countries to correct
the deteriorating terms of trade.
• Population control: A country can correct deteriorating terms of trade by controlling the
growth of its population. When the growth of population is controlled, a country is
able to reduce its import needs on essential goods such as oil, medicine and food. The
fall in the demand for imports leads to a favourable terms of trade.
• Mechanisation: This is the system of applying machines in the process of production.
Mechanization leads to an increase in the volume of production and thus enables a
country to meet the demand for its citizens, and export the surplus to other countries.
Also, it leads to a fall in the demand for imports and favourable terms of trade.
• Import substitution industries: These are industries which produce goods that were,
formerly, imported, such a measure leads to fall in the demand for imports, hence a
favourable terms of trade.
Protectionism (Import Control)
Protectionism is part of trade policy aimed at controlling imports and promoting exports,
as a safeguard to the economy against the adverse effects of international trade.
Forms of Protectionism
Protectionism can be in different forms as explained below:
(a) Import tariffs: These are taxes on goods imported. Import tariffs lead to an increase in
the prices of imports in relation to the locally produced goods. The increase in the
price of the imports influences the local consumers to opt for locally produced goods
and thus, leads to a fall in imports.
Price D
P 1+ t
P1
D
Figure 5.1: Price rise due to imposition of tariffs
In figure 5.1 above, the price and quantity demanded before imposition of tariffs is
0P1 and 0Q1, respectively. After the introduction of tariffs price increases to P1 + t (t
= tariff) leading to a fall in the quantity of import demanded to 0Q2.
(b) Import quota: An import quota is the maximum amount of certain commodities to be
imported at a certain period of time. Quota also discourages import.
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(c) Devaluation: This is the reduction of the value of the domestic currency in terms of
foreign currency. When the currency is devalued, exports become cheap, while
imports become expensive. Therefore, devaluation discourages imports but
encourages exports.
(d) Exchange control: In this measure, the Central Bank provides a limited amount of
foreign currency to the importers in order to limit them from importing large
quantities of imports.
(e) Subsidy: A subsidy is the government’s assistance to local producers in form of funds
or reduced price of inputs. Subsidies enable producers to produce goods at low costs
and thus, reduce the prices of the local goods, hence encourage consumers to prefer
domestic goods to imported goods, which become relatively expensive.
(f) Total ban: This is the policy of prohibiting the importation of certain commodities
which have some negative cultural or economic impact, example pornography,
cocaine and second-hand clothes.
(g) Voluntary export restraints: This refers to the voluntary limits imposed by exporting
countries on the exportation of certain commodities. It is bilaterally negotiated with
an importing country to limit excessive exportation of goods to an importing country,
which may harm trade relations between the two countries.
Arguments for Protectionism
Arguments which support protectionism are as follows:
(i) Infant Industry Argument
Protectionism helps to protect newly established industries against foreign industries
which apply high technology in production. They are more cost effective, and thus
produce goods of high quality at low cost, and are sold at low price.
(ii) Anti-Dumping Argument
The government protects home industries against the effects of dumping, whereby a
country sells goods of low quality at low price in a foreign market, which affects domestic
industries. Therefore, when tariffs are imposed on goods which are dumped, it helps to
reduce the problem of dumping.
(iii) Employment Promotion
Protectionism helps to protect home industries and therefore create more job
opportunities to the citizens.
(iv) Balance of Payments Argument
By applying protectionism measures such as devaluation, the payments to abroad, by the
way of imports, decline and a country may also increase its exports and receipts of foreign
currency, which improves the balance of payments of the country.
(v) Retaliatory Argument
Some countries impose tariffs to avenge against a country which has imposed tariffs upon
their goods. For example, when the government of USA imposed high tariffs on steel
products from other countries, the Europeans countries retaliated by increasing tariffs on
goods from USA.
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(vi) To Control Inflation

Protectionism is sometimes applied to prevent importation of goods from a country
which is affected by inflation.
(vii) To Avert Cultural Distortions
Free trade may result in the importation of items which can destroy the good culture of a
country. Due to this reason, countries impose control measures on goods or items which
demolish the culture of a country. For Example, the items which can erode the culture of
a country are pornography and drugs like cocaine.
(viii)Reduce Dependency
Importation may create economic dependency and thus, harm some political and
economic interest of a country. To avoid this, several countries impose some restrictions
to reduce excessive country's dependency on other countries.
Arguments Contra to Protectionism
Arguments which are against measures of controlling foreign trade are as follows:
(i) Fall in Consumers Welfare
Protectionism measures, such as tariffs, leads to an increase in the price of imported
goods. In a situation of shortage of the domestic products, consumers suffer by buying
imported goods at a much higher price. This increases the cost of living and decreases the
welfare of the people. Moreover, the welfare of the people decline because they are forced
to buy locally produced goods, which may be of poor quality.
(ii) Danger of Inflation
Import tariffs cause an increase in the prices of imports. In case these imports have
inelastic demand, the demand for these goods will not fall by a large proportion, and wage
earners will therefore demand higher wages so as to be able to purchase the goods. When
the demand for high wages is realized, it may cause a wage spiral inflation.
(iii) It is Contrary to the Law of Comparative Advantage
The law of comparative advantage is the basis of international trade, it insists on
specialization and free trade in order for each country to gain from international trade.
However, if countries protect their industries, the law of comparative advantage does not
apply and, therefore, countries do not gain from trade.
(iv) It Lowers the Volume of Trade
Protectionism discourages import and export and, therefore, reduces the volume of
international trade.
(v) It Discourages Competition in the Local Economy
Protectionism assures local firms of markets for whatever they produce; this makes them
less inventive in more efficient techniques of production, i.e. in discovering the methods
of production that can enable them to produce goods of high quality at a low cost. The
long run effect of this inefficiency is slow growth of the country's economy.
Effects of Tariffs and Quota
Tariffs and quota have the following effects:
(a) Price effect: As a result of tariffs, the price of imports may increases.
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(b) Protective effect on domestic production: Tariffs lead to an increase in the domestic supply of
goods.
(c) Reduction in the demand for imports: The demand for imports increase as a result of an
increase in their prices.
(d) Welfare effect: The welfare of the consumers might fall because they may be buying at
higher prices, but buying low quality domestic goods.
Tshs.
Price Sd
Pd Ed
Pw+t S'w
Pw R A G C Sw
Dd
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Quantity
Figure 5.2: Impact of tariffs

Dd - Is the domestic demand curve for a country.
Sd - Is the domestic supply curve for a country.
Sw - Is the world supply curve which is horizontal (perfectly elastic).
Pw - Is the world market price for a commodity.
Pd - Is the domestic price of a commodity.
With free access to the world market, i.e. without Tariffs;
The domestic consumers will purchase Q4 of the product and the domestic producers
will supply Q1. The differences, Q4 - Q1 is the imports.
The world price, Pw, will now be the price of the product within the country.
Also, the quantity supplied by the domestic producers will be less than the pre-trade
quantity at price Pd (point Ed), but the quantity demanded will be greater than the pre-
trade quantity.
Imposition of Tariffs
If an import tariff of amount t is imposed on each unit bought from foreigners, the result
will be:
The world supply curve will shift from Sw to S'w, because any amount of foreign
output can now be obtained for price Pw + t.
Demand for imports will fall fromQ4 to Q3.
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Domestic supply will rise from Q1 to Q2.

The price of the commodity will increase from Pw to Pw + t
The loss of welfare will be represented by areas, RAGC, due to the high prices and low
quantity demanded.
The Case for and Against Free Trade
Free trade, in international trade, refers to the trade policy whereby a country eliminates
all the trade barriers such as tariffs and import quota.
Arguments for Free Trade
Arguments for free trade are as follows:
(a) Gain from the trade: Free trade allows countries to gain from international trade through
comparative advantage, whereby a country specializes in the production of a
commodity which it has the greatest comparative advantage over the other countries.
(b) Increase in the welfare of the consumers: The welfare of the consumers of a country
increases as a result of free trade because they are able to purchase varieties of goods,
from abroad, at low prices but high quality.
(c) Transfer of technology: A country may acquire the technology from other countries
through the goods imported and the direct foreign investments.
(d) Increase in the efficiency of the local firms: The efficiency of the local firms may increase
because they are exposed to competition with more efficient foreign firms. With free
trade, there are more incentives for the local firms to be more inventive than when
they are protected through tariffs.
(e) Increase in the Volume of the World Trade: As a result of free trade, the volume of the
world trade will increase, leading to improvement of the economies of scale in various
countries.
Argument against Free Trade
Arguments against free trade are as follows:
(a) Problems of specialization: As a result of free trade and comparative advantage, a country
may specialize in only one commodity and risk facing serious economic problems if
the demand for the commodity, in the world market, declines.
(b) Danger of dumping: This is the selling of goods, in the foreign market, below their cost
of production and, thus affecting goods from the industries of the importing country
because they fail to compete with the dumped goods cheap from abroad.
(c) It affects infant industries: Free trade affects infant industries, i.e. industries which are still
at the youngest level of establishment and cannot compete with the foreign well
established industries.
(d) It can aggravate unemployment problem: Free trade may lead to the collapse of domestic
firms and, thus increase in the unemployment problem.
(e) Balance of payments problem: Free trade may lead to an increase in import spending and,
thus increase in the deficit in the balance of payments.
(f) Importation of harmful products: Free trade may result into the importation of some
commodities which may be harmful to the citizens of a country such as expired
medical drugs and food items.
(g) A country may lose revenues: A country engaging in free trade may lose revenues that it
earns through tariffs.
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Obstacles or Barriers to International Trade

International trade is affected by a number of obstacles or barriers as follows:
(a) Tariffs and quotas: Tariffs are taxes that are imposed on imports for the objective of
either raising revenues or protecting industries, while quotas are the quantitative
restrictions on the amount of imports, both tariffs and quotas reduce the volume of
world trade.
(b) Different languages among countries: There are different languages that are spoken by
people in different countries which, to some extent, affect the effective
communication that is needed in international trade.
(c) Currencies: Foreign trade involves exchanging currencies, which in itself is a barrier, but
it is often added to by the restrictions placed on currency exchange by the
government.
(d) Poor infrastructure in some countries: In some countries, especially the less developed
countries, infrastructure such as roads and railways are less advanced and, therefore,
limit the efficiency of trade.
(e) Political misunderstanding: For international trade to grow, the level of understanding
among countries must be high, but if there are political misunderstandings,
international trade may not grow.
(f) Geographical barriers: Geographical barriers such as mountains, rivers, forests, wildlife,
oceans can sometimes prevent smooth trade among countries.
(g) Immigration laws: Tight immigration laws and procedures can also be impediments to
Trade Creation and Trade Diversion
(a) Trade Creation
Trade creation is said to occur when a country starts to import goods from a low cost
producing member country to replace imports from a high cost producing non member
country after the abolition of tariffs.
(b) Trade Diversion
Trade diversion is said to occur when a country stops buying goods from a low cost
producing non-member country and buy from a high cost producing member nation in
integration because of the existence of common tariffs and quotas against goods from a
non-member country. Suppose, for example, we consider three countries, Tanzania,
Kenya and United Kingdom, the first two have free trade following the establishment of
the East Africa Co-operation, and exercise common external tariffs against textile goods.
Both Kenya and the United Kingdom produce textile products, but the Kenya’s product
is more expensive.
Without tariffs, both Kenya and Tanzania would import from the United Kingdom.
The effect of the tariffs is that, Tanzania now buys the Kenya’s textile even though they
are more expensive to make, thus the pattern of trade is distorted and Tanzania
consumers suffer, same to the United Kingdom exporters.
Importance of International Trade
International trade has the following advantages:
(a) It encourages specialization: International trade enables countries to specialize in the
production of goods in which they have comparative advantage on.
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(b) Technological transfer: International trade may facilitate the transfer of technology from
one country to another country.
(c) Economies of scale: International trade widens market for a country's products and,
therefore, enables local producers to produce in large scale.
(d) It reduces scarcity of goods: Since no country in the world is self-sufficient in everything,
international trade reduces the deficit in the supply of commodities and, therefore,
ensures a constant supply of goods in the domestic market.
(e) Amplification of competition: International trade exposes the local firms to foreign market,
which is very competitive. These compel the local firms to adapt to the new
techniques of production and modern marketing strategies and, therefore, improve
the whole economy.
(f) Stimulates international understanding: International trade creates good mutual
relationships among nations and among the citizens of the trading nations and, thus
help to maintain peace and security in the world.
(g) A country gets what it can't produce: International trade enables a country to get what it
cannot produce and sell what it cannot consume.
(h) Dispose of the surplus products: International trade enables a country to sell its surplus
products that is the products, which remain after domestic consumption.
(i) It’s important during calamities: International trade enables a country to obtain various
necessities during calamities such as floods and droughts.
(j) Foreign earning: International trade enables a country to earn foreign currencies and
revenues through tariffs.
Disadvantages of International Trade
International trade has the following disadvantages:
(i) Decline of Domestic Industries
International trade compels the local firms to engage in competitions with the foreign
giant firms which use more efficient techniques of production. Such competitions lead to
the collapse of domestic firms because of failing to compete against the foreign firms.
(ii) Some of the Imports are Harmful to the Citizens
For the sake of making profit, traders may import goods which may have economic, social
and cultural effects. Examples of such goods are marijuana, cocaine, expired food and
drugs, second hand goods, romantic literature, etc.
(iii) Dependency
International trade influences specialization among countries. Too much specialization
may be dangerous to a country since it makes the country dependent on other countries
for the supply of essential goods. These cause difficulties to the importing country when it
faces problems of foreign currency, in which it can fail to import the essential goods.
Dependency may also be a source of neo-colonialism.
(iv) Problem of Unequal Exchange
Most of the time, less developed countries faces unfavourable terms of trade because they
export primary products, which have low price elasticity, and import manufactured goods,
which have high price elasticity.
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(v) Defects of Specialization

Too much specialization often leads to problems when the demand for the commodity
decline in the world market.
(vi) Unequal Exchange and Exploitation of Resources
International trade may lead to massive exploitation of a country's wealth due to unequal
exchange and transfer of wealth to abroad.
Problems Faced by Developing Countries in International Trade
Developing countries face a number of problems in international trade:
(a) Declining terms of trade: Most of the products that are produced by developing countries
are sold at low prices due to reasons such as poor quality, oversupply of these
products, discovery of synthetic substitutes and weak bargaining power.
(b) Dependency on international trade: Most of the developing countries are dependent on
international trade for their development. For example, most of these countries
depend on export sector to earn their income, therefore, in case of price fall; the
economies of these countries suffer greatly. Also, these countries depend on import
trade to acquire most of the essentials commodities such as oil; this makes them so
vulnerable when the price of imports rises.
(c) Protectionism policies of developed countries: Developed countries often impose different
kinds of protection measures against goods from less developed countries; this lead to
fall in the exports of these products to developed countries.
(d) Severe external debt due to deficit in the balance of payments: Exports earnings are lower than
the payments for imports due to low price of exports; this force developing countries
to depend on foreign aid to finance its imports, hence an increase in foreign debt.
Theory of Exchange Rate
Exchange rate is the price of the domestic currency in terms of a foreign currency. It is
the relationship between the foreign and the domestic currency. It is realized through
international financial institutions that deal in the selling and buying of foreign exchange,
e.g. 1 dollar = 1200 Tanzanian’s currency.
Types of Exchange Rates
There are various types of exchange rates as follows:
A. Fixed exchange rate
This is where the price of one currency, in terms of another, is maintained through the
Central Bank.
Advantages of Fixed Exchange Rate
Fixed exchange rate has the following advantages:
(i) The fixed exchange rate system does not encourage speculation. Quite often,
speculation and gambling tend to adversely affect the economy.
(ii) The fixed exchange rate programme encourages the inflow of capital, since it tends to
remove possible uncertainties.
(iii) Monetary authorities are less prone to indiscipline. A fixed exchange rate system
minimises the possibility of the financial/monetary authorities of encouraging an
inflationary situation.
(iv) A fixed exchange rate system encourages a conducive atmosphere for regional
economic integrations, since it promotes the harmonization of domestic policies by
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the concerned countries as it makes the prices of commodities more realistic in

international commodity markets. This, consequently, gives confidence and
encourages more production for external markets, leading to high rates of economic
growth and development.
(v) The fixed foreign exchange rate system enables people to gain confidence in the
strength and value of the domestic currency, as there are no likely depreciations and
appreciations.
(vi) The price predictability is quite possible. This encourages production and
consequently high economic growth rates.
Disadvantages of Fixed Foreign Exchange Rates
Fixed exchange rate has the following disadvantages:
(i) The system could lead to massive misallocation of the scarce foreign exchange
resources (capital/finance), as it imposes a heavy burden on the financial/monetary
authorities in the control of foreign exchange resources and reserves.
(ii) Shortages in international liquidity may result, as the monetary authorities endeavour
to minimise fluctuations beyond reasonable limits.
(iii) A fixed foreign exchange rate system would lead to inflation and high social costs,
since the system could temper with prevailing stable situations of full employment.
(iv) The fixed exchange rate system needs a lot of foreign exchange reserves in order for it
to operate successfully. This could consequently lead to a B.O.P
problem/deficit/disequilibrium.
(v) At times, the system may result into either over-valuation or under-valuation of the
country's domestic currency.
B. Free/Flexible/Floating Exchange/Fluctuating Exchange Rate System

This occurs when the exchange rate is determined by forces of demand and supply.
Advantages of Flexible Exchange Rate
Flexible exchange rate has the following advantages:
(i) The price of the domestic currency against the foreign currency is free and fair, since
it is determined by the forces of demand and supply.
(ii) This foreign exchange system is automatic and indeed realistic.
(iii) The flexible exchange programme indicates the strength of the domestic currency.
(iv) Even the government can earn some revenue to finance its current and development
expenditure.
(v) As compared to the fixed exchange system, it does not require a lot of foreign
exchange reserves.
(vi) This system does not necessitate financial institutional, e.g. the World Bank, IMF,
arrangements for borrowing and lending to curb the short term disequilibrium in
B.O.P.
(vii) It avoids the competitive exchange rate depreciation among countries.
(viii) Curbing/controlling B.O.P pressures is easy than would be the case with a pegged
foreign exchange rate system.
(ix) There are no rigidities in acquiring foreign exchange.
(x) It works well under a liberalized economy. The forex bureaux, through speculation,
will supply foreign exchange to meet the private demands
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Disadvantages of Free/Flexible Exchange Rates

Fixed exchange rate has the following disadvantages:
(i) Floating the currency can permit the transfer of inflation due to the highly priced
goods and services.
(ii) Speculation may be encouraged. A flexible exchange rate has speculative effects
among the traders, investors and consumers.
(iii) This system tends to increase the smuggling of the foreign currency; as foreign
exchange is often sold on non-official markets when the speculators purchase it
cheaply and sell them dearly (expensively).
(iv) This system has to depend on the markets mechanism, and yet this has several
defects that may lead to misallocation of resources.
(v) The floating foreign exchange programmes, often, subject the domestic economy to
price fluctuations. This will make employment and production difficult, since it will
affect the planning system.
(vi) Again, due to the speculation, gambling and consequently instabilities may occur,
leading to several uncertainties in the economy. Strategic plans for imports and
exports will, therefore, be made difficult.
(vii) It leads to uncertainties in international trade, which may discourage trade among
nations, and capital and financial resource movements.
(viii) It has proved inefficient in correcting a deficit in B.O.P since the domestic demand
for domestic exports and imports remain inelastic.
C. Multiple Exchange Rates
This means that the foreign currency is purchased at different rates/prices by the local
currency. This usually depends on the purpose for which foreign currency is required. For
example, the exchange rate would be lower for importers of medicine and higher for
importers of non-essential products (luxuries) or for tourists.
Advantages of the Multiple Exchange Rates System

Multiple exchange rates has the following advantages:
(i) This foreign exchange system avails foreign exchange to all that is needed for it.
(ii) The system enables the country to restrict foreign exchange, undertake foreign
exchange control, so as to curb a B.O.P deficit.
(iii) It enables the nation to allocate foreign exchange to priority areas of production and
to boost the country's domestic production.
(iv) The multiple exchange rate system can be used to fix different rates for importers.
(v) The system also checks on exports to and from the country's trading partners.
Disadvantages of multiple exchange rates system

Multiple exchange rates have the following disadvantages:
(i) Trade mal-practices could result. This may involve under-invoicing and over-
invoicing of exports due to differences in foreign exchange rates.
(ii) It may distort international trade and hinder currency convertibility. This could affect
the free movement of foreign exchange.
(iii) The multiple exchange rate system is quite expensive and indeed difficult to
implement.
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D. Pegged Foreign Exchange

It is a system where the price of a particular domestic currency is fixed in relation to a
given foreign currency. For example, in case the Tanzania shilling is pegged to the USA
dollar and the prices of other foreign currencies are determined according to the dollar
and shilling relationship.
E. Managed/mixed exchange rate
This refers to that price at which the currency is exchanged according to the demand and
supply for the foreign currency. It is the rate of exchange that can be changed/altered but
within certain limits, and the Central Bank has to control such fluctuations.
Dual exchange rate system
This occurs when the country practices, both the fixed and the floating/free/flexible
foreign exchange rates systems concurrently.
International Institutions in International Trade
(i) IBRD: This is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It is
popularly known as the World Bank. It was formed at the Bretton Woods conference
as a separate institution of IMF in order to assist countries with serious problems.
(ii) IFC: It is the International Fund/Finance for Co-operation. The fund was formed in
1956 as an affiliate of the World Bank. It promotes investments in poor countries by
assisting the private sector enterprises. It has its headquarters at Washington D.C.
(iii) IDA: It was formed in 1960 as an affiliate of the World Bank in order to promote
economic development through long-term loans for the poor developing countries.
(iv) GATT: This is the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The GATT came
forward as a result of the 1947 General Conference. It is a multi-national treaty,
encompassing 80% of the World Trade.
Objectives of GATT
GATT was established to meet the following objectives:
• To protect the domestic infant industries basically through tariffs.
• To control the powers and activities of multi-national enterprises/agencies/
organisations.
• To encourage the growth, development and more equitable distribution of gains from
• To harmonize and liberalize both the tariff and non-tariff measures to negotiations.
(v) The UNCTAD: This is the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. It
was established in 1964 to handle LDCs' trade obstacles. It was a result of the
unfavourable North to South co-operation.
Objectives of the UNCTAD
UNCTAD has the following objectives:
• To give LDCs trade (tariff) preference through encouraging and promoting both
manufactured and semi-manufactured goods.
• Strengthen and promote capital inflow to LDCs for development.
• Promoting self-reliance and economic co-operation among developing countries.
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• Promoting/encouraging/stimulating economic growth and development, especially

among developing nations.
• To improve the terms of trade among the least developed countries by enlarging the
markets for their primary products, and also to stabilize prices through international
commodity agreements.
• The UNCTAD also aims at transferring technology rapidly to LDCs. This would
encompass capacity building, research and training for LDCs in an endeavour to
narrow the technological gap between the developed countries and the LDCs.
(vi) The World Bank: Also known as IBRD, that is, the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. It was established in 1945 as a sister institution of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF members are members of
the World Bank. It has the USA, UK, Germany, France and Japan as its major
shareholders.
Objectives of the World Bank
The World Bank has the following objectives:
• To help in the restructuring and development of the member states through genuine
and adequate investment capital.
• To encourage balanced growth in international trade and achievement of a fairer
B.O.P position.
• The World Bank further promotes foreign investments, since private capital is often
insufficient to fund productive projects.
• To finance projects/programmes like roads, railways, power, telecommunications, etc;
aimed at improving the general welfare, especially among the poor population in
LDCs.
(vii) The International Monetary Fund (IMF): IMF is an international financial institution
which was formed after the Breton Woods Conference of 1944 and it came into
operation in 1947.
Objectives of the IMF
The IMF has the following objectives:
• To assist member countries with severe B.O.P problems through provision of loans,
technical, monetary advice and fiscal policies/programmes.
• To enhance foreign exchange stability and maintain orderly exchange
programmes/policies among member states so as to avoid the competitive foreign
exchange depreciation.
• To eliminate the unnecessary foreign exchange restrictions that may hamper trading
among countries.
• The IMF also aims at providing technical assistance by sending experts to member
countries that may need them.
• To promote international monetary co-operation, as a basis of consultation and
collaboration on international monetary programmes.
• To assist in the establishment of multi-national systems of payments in respect to
current transaction among member states.
• To establish and expand a balanced growth of international trade.
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The IMF' Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs)

These SAPs include a package of the IMF’s conditions, to less developed countries, for
getting the IMF’s assistance. These conditions include:
(i) Reduction in the government expenditure like the social overhead expenditure such
as infrastructure, health, education, social security, etc.
(ii) Devaluation: The IMF stresses that this would improve the B.O.P position of
developing countries by making imports more expensive than exports.
(iii) Improvement in tax collection: The IMF urges developing countries to expand their
tax base, so as to raise more revenues.
(iv) Strict monetary and credit policies: The IMF recommends credit restrictions and an
increase in interest rates, so as to reduce money supply and reduce inflation.
(v) Trade liberalization: LDCs are forced to liberalize their markets to foreign imports
through their manufactured products, because their exports are often faced with
restrictions by the developed countries.
(vi) Retrenchment of workers and demobilization: Again, the IMF recommends reducing
the number of civil servants and soldiers. Though this is undertaken without proper
consideration of the manpower requirements of LDCS’ economies.
(vii) Wages freeze: This condition of the IMF, has, however, greatly affected the general
welfare, especially among the working class.
(viii) Privatisation and encouragement of the private sector, where economic activities are
to be shifted from the state to the private sector in a bid to ensure profitability,
efficiency, proper management and accountability within the private sector.
(ix) Establishment of flexible foreign exchange rate policies: In this era of globalisation,
the control of the state economic activities has greatly been reduced. Quite often,
forces of demand and supply have been allowed to prevail, hence the need for a
flexible/free floating exchange rate system.
(x) In the case of LDCs, the IMF still recommends and encourages increased production
in the agricultural sector.
(xi) Where the state still controls the major means of production, the IMF emphasizes
efficiency in public sector enterprises.
Achievements of the International Monetary Fund

The IMF has made the following achievements:
(i) The fund has assisted member states with balance of payments problems, by funding
them so as to reduce the problem.
(ii) The fund has altered its original article to the changing international economic
situation. For example, it has legalized free exchange rates, raised quotas to increase
capital resources, etc
(iii) The fund has provided financial support, especially under the special import
programme (SIP), which has led to an increase in a variety of commodities in the
market.
(iv) The liberation policy of the IMF, especially on trade, has reduced problems of
scarcity of goods in a number of less developed countries.
(v) Policies, such as privatisation, have improved efficiency, accountability, management
and have also controlled corruption.
(vi) It has increased the inflow of foreign currencies to various countries.
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Failures of IMF
The IMF has failed in the following areas:
(i) Controlling and restricting world trade.
(ii) The fund’s lending rates are high and short term, and indeed, with high interest rates.
(iii) The IMF tends to discriminate against LDCs in favour of developed countries who
are the major shareholders.
(iv) Following the collapse of the Brettonwoods system, under which the fund was
established, the IMF has failed to promote foreign exchange stability and orderly
exchange among the member states.
(v) The IMF has tended to interfered with the internal economic affairs/conditions of its
member states. This is because the member countries have to fulfil the IMF’s
conditions before getting financial assistance.
(vi) The IMF’s policies have instead widened the gap between the poor and the rich in
LDCs. This is because such programmes have mostly favoured the richer sections of
the population.
(vii) Standards of living have deteriorated because of the strict IMF conditions of
increasing taxes so as to widen the tax base.
(viii) Foreign exchange wastage has become a common problem in LDCs due to the
IMF's liberation conditions, which has led to the importation of unnecessary goods.
(ix) Increased debt burden has resulted in a bid to stabilize the B.O.P position as required
by the IMF.
(x) Retrenchment has aggravated the problem of unemployment and this, too, has
affected people's welfare.
(xi) The IMF policies have failed to protect the peasant farmers in LDCs, because of the
abolition of price control programmes, e.g. minimum price legislation.
(xii) Privatisation conditions of the IMF have greatly affected the locals, since they do not
possess enough capital to purchase expensive state enterprises that have been sold
off.
(xiii) Cost sharing in the education sector, as a condition of the IMF, has led to rampant
school drop outs, resulting into many semi-illiterates and unemployed.
(xiv) Generally, the IMF policies have proved to be unpopular. This is because formerly,
the government’s pro-people expenditures have been stopped.
Review Questions
1. What is international trade?
2. Describe theories of international trade.
3. What is the main difference between theory of absolute advantage and comparative
advantage?
4. Write short notes on the following:
(i) Balance of trade.
(ii) Balance of payments.
(iii) Terms of trade.
(iv) Invisible balance
5. What are the major accounts in balance of payments?
6. Discuss the main causes of deterioration of terms of trade
7. Discuss how a deficit balance of payment can be corrected.
8. Discuss the impact of tariffs
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9. To what extent can devaluation help in solving balance of payments problems

10. Explain the importance of international trade
11. What is the argument for and against protectionism?
12. Discuss the pros and cons of free trade.
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CHAPTER SIX
ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND CO-OPERATION

Meaning
Economic integration is the combination of selected economies so as to trade freely
among member countries.
Forms/stages of Economic Integration
Economic integration has the following stages:
1. Free Trade Area
It is the type of integration in which countries remove all the trade barriers, so as to trade
freely among member countries, but each member country maintains the unilateral right
to impose tariffs on goods from the rest of the world.
2. Customs Union
This is a type of integration in which member countries remove the trade barriers among
themselves, but have common tariffs against the rest of the world.
3. Common Market
In this type of integration, member countries have customs union, hence allow a free
movement of the factors of production from one member country to another member
country.
4. Economic Union
In this type of integration, member countries, besides having a common market, establish
joint institutions such as railways, roads, parliament etc.
5. Common Monetary Union
In this type of integration, member countries establish a common currency.
Stages of economic integration can be summarised using table 6.1 bellow:
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Table 6.1: Forms/stages of regional integration
Each member country maintains unilateral right to
Countries establish joint institutions such as railways,

impose tariffs on goods from the rest of the world
Member countries establish a common currency

Common tariffs against the rest of the world.
Countries remove all trade barriers on trade
Free movement of factors of production
roads, parliament etc

STAGE
Free Trade Area √ √
Customs Union √ √ √
Common Market √ √ √ √
Economic Union √ √ √ √ √
Common
Monetary Union √ √ √ √ √ √
The Necessary Conditions for a Successful Economic Integration

In order for an economic integration to be successful, the following conditions are
necessary:
(i) Good Infrastructure: In order for economic integration to be successful, countries in the
region of integration must be having good infrastructure that may facilitate the
movement of goods and people from one area to another.
(ii) Political Will and Commitment: For a regional integration to be successful the political
leaders must be willing and committed to implement the various resolutions that are
made. They must also have the political ability to make necessary decisions for the
betterment of the integration.
(iii) Common Language: Common language, ability among the people in an economic
integration, facilitates easy communication among the people in the region as they
engage in socio-economic and political activities.
(iv) Common Currency: In order to have a smooth exchange, a common currency is very
important for integration. Absence of a common currency makes exchange difficult.
(v) Differentiated Products: Exchange cannot take place if countries produce similar
products. Each country should, therefore specialize in a commodity which it has
comparative advantage.
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(vi) Trade Gains: For an integration to be successful, each member country must gain
from trade. If some member countries do not gain from trade or any other economic
activities, then the integration will not be successful.
(vii) Similar Level of Development: In order to reduce uneven distribution of gains among the
member countries, countries should have similar level of economic development, if
the difference in the levels of development is so wide; the rich members will gain
more than the poor countries.
(viii) Member Countries Must Be Neighbours: It is easier for member countries to engage in
economic activities and establish joint institutions if they are close neighbours, in
terms of geographical location, than when they are located far from each other.
(ix) Cultural Similarities: Cultural similarities facilitate the interactions among the people in
various economic activities such as trade and investments.
(x) Trade Creation: Trade creation is said to occur when a country, in an integration, now
imports goods, at a low cost, from a member country after abolition of tariffs.
Importance of economic integration
Economic integration has following importance:
(i) Enlargement in the Markets: Economic integration leads to abolition or reduction of
trade barriers among the member countries. The abolition of trade barriers increases
the size of the market for the goods produced by the member countries.
(ii) It enables member countries to specialize: Economic integration enables each member
country to specialize in the production of a commodity of its comparative advantage.
Specialization leads to increase in output and gain from trade.
(iii) Transfer of technology: Integration leads to exchange of technology among the member
countries.
(iv) Increase in employment: There are possibilities of attaining increase in employment due to
the free movement of the factors of production and expansion in investments.
(v) It reduces exchange difficulties: In monetary union, countries adopt a common currency
which eliminates all the difficulties that traders of different countries face when they
use different currencies.
(vi) Increase in political and social understanding: Economic integration promotes good political
relationships between the governments of the member countries and between the
people of the member countries.
Problems of economic integration
Economic integration faces the following problems:
(i) Uneven Distribution of Gains: The distribution of gains among the member countries
may differ due to the different levels of economic development among the member
countries and unfavourable terms of trade.
(ii) Political Instabilities: Civil wars and political misunderstandings between one member
country and another may hinder the development of economic activities, such as
trade, among the member countries.
(iii) Differences in Political Ideologies: The differences in political ideologies among the
member countries make it difficult for the member countries to have common
objectives and approaches in implementing their objectives.
(iv) Poor Infrastructures: For an economic integration to be successful, there must be a
reliable infrastructure in the region. The absence of roads, railways and other means
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of transport and communication hinder economic activities such as trade among the
member countries.
(v) Loss of Revenues: Economic integration leads to loss of revenues with the member
countries, due to the removal of tariffs.
(vi) Differences in Currencies: In case the member countries use different currencies,
exchange among them becomes difficult.
(vii) Differences in Language: In case the member countries have different national
languages, it causes difficulties in communication among people in various activities
such as trade.
(viii) Trade Diversion: Trade diversion is said to occur when a country stops buying goods
from a low cost producing non-member country and buys from a high cost
producing member nation, within the integration, because of the existing common
tariffs and quotas against goods from non-member countries.
Suppose, for example, we consider three countries, Tanzania, Kenya and the
United Kingdom, the first two have free trade, following the establishment of the
East Africa co-operation, and exercise common external tariffs against textile goods.
Both Kenya and the United Kingdom produce textile products, but the Kenya’s
textile is more expensive. Without tariffs, both Kenya and Tanzania would import,
from the United Kingdom, but the effect of the tariffs is that Tanzania now buys
Kenya’s textile even though they are more expensive, thus the pattern of trade is
distorted and Tanzania’s consumers suffer, same to the United Kingdom exporters
EXAMPLES OF REGIONAL INTEGRATIONS

The ECOWAS
ECOWAS is the Economic Community of West African States. It was formed in 1975,
and comprises of 16 West African states, namely, Ghana, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria,
Togo, Benin and Niger. It also has Ivory Coast, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Gabon,
Mali, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
Aims of the ECOWAS
The ECOWAS has the following aims:
To bring closer relationship in economic and social development.
To make good trading relationship in goods and services between the member states.
To create economic liberation among the member nations.
To cooperate in communication, transport, energy, agriculture, industries, trade and
other natural resources.
Achievements of the ECOWAS
ECOWAS had the following achievements:
- Some trade barriers in the region have been removed.
- Abolition of VISA for short-term residences among the member states.
- Improvement in telecommunication network.
- Proposals to introduce a common currency.
- Management of peace in conflict areas such as Liberia.
Problems of the ECOWAS
The ECOWAS face the following problems:
- Vastness of the area that is covered by the ECOWAS; it has many member stops.
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- Communication barriers among the member states.

- Differences in the languages that are spoken in the region.
- Deteriorating terms of trade between the member states and the rest of the world.
- Differences in currencies.
- Persistent civil conflict in the ECOWAS area such as Liberia.
- The division of the ECOWAS countries into Franco-phone and Anglo-phone.
The East African Community (EAC)
The origin of the East African community dates back to 1923, when governors of
Tanganyika, Kenya and Uganda formed the African governors’ conference. In 1948, the
East Africa high commission replaced the East African governors’ conference.
Aims of the East African High Commission
The EAC has the following aims:
To administer common services such as East African civil association, East African
posts and telecommunication etc.
To make laws relating to inter-territorial common services, peace and order and the
good governance of the colonies.
Establishment of the East African Community
On 6th June, 1967, the presidents of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda signed the East African
co-operation treaty in Kampala, Uganda. The treaty came to be effective on1st December,
1967. The headquarters for the community was in Arusha Tanzania.
Aims of the Former East African Community (EAC)
To promote free trade in the area.
To provide common services such as railways, posts, telecommunication, airways etc.
To provide a wider and more secure market for the goods produced in the region.
To facilitate free movement of people in the region.
Running research services on sectors such as agriculture, medicine and population.
Reasons for the Collapse of the Former East African Community
The following are some of the reasons for the collapse of the former East African
Community.
Dissatisfaction among the member countries. Other member countries complained
that Kenya was gaining more than the other two member states.
Differences in political ideologies among the member countries hindered the
implementation of some objectives.
Political misunderstanding among political leaders, especially between the president of
Tanzania and the president of Uganda.
There were no clear and agreed patterns of industrial specifications, such that each
member country insisted working on its own plan, while expecting to enjoy the
benefits of the community.
The government of Tanzania restricted free transfer and exchange of currency. This
discouraged interstate transaction of goods. The restriction meant that, while in Kenya
and Uganda, Tanzanians could not purchase goods and services because their currency
was not acceptable in those countries. This discouraged interstate trade relationship
among the member countries.
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The failure of the East African development bank to provide enough credits to
economic sectors which were in need of funds.
The ousting of president Milton Obote of Uganda from power, by Iddi Amin in 1971,
created misunderstanding between Tanzania and Uganda
The volume of trade among the member countries was very low.
The New East African Community
The treaty of the new East African community was signed in Arusha on 30th November,
1999, and came into force in 7th July, 2000. This is the association of five countries, these
countries are: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
Goals and Objectives of the New East African Community
Widening and deepening co-operation among partner states in the following areas:
- Economic
- Political
- Education
- Science and technology
- Defence and security
- Health and
- Judicial and legal system.
These objectives may be achieved through the establishment of a custom union, as the
entry point of the community, a common market, subsequently a monetary union and
ultimately a political federation for the East African states.
Strategies for achieving the objectives
The following are the strategies for achieving objectives of the East African Community:
(i) Promotion of sustainable growth and equitable development of the whole region of
East Africa, including rational utilization of the available resources and protection of
the environment.
(ii) Strengthening and consolidation of the long standing political, economic, social,
cultural and traditions between the people of East Africa, in order to promote people-
centred integration.
(iii) Enhancing and strengthening of the participation of the private sector and the civil
society.
(iv) Mainstreaming of gender in its entire programmes and enhancing the role of women
in development.
(v) Promotion of good governance, including adherence to principles of democracy, rule
of law, freedom of expression, transparency and gender equality.
(vi) Promotion of peace, security and stability within the region and good neighbourhood
among the partner states.
Organs of the East African Community
The main organs of the East African community are:
- Summit of the heads of state of the member countries.
- Councils of ministers.
- Coordination committee.
- Sectoral committees.
- East African court of justice
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- East African legislative assembly

- A secretariat
Strategies of the East African Co-operation
The East African community operates on the basis of a five-year development strategy.
The strategy spells out the policy guidelines, priority programs and implementation
schedules.
Emphasises on economic co-operation and development with a strong focus on the
social dimension.
Enhancing the role of the private sector and civil society in collaboration with the
public sector in regional integration and development.
Establishment of an internationally competitive single market and investment area
alongside the development of regional infrastructure, human resource, science and
technology.
Areas of Co-operation in the East African Co-operation
The following are the areas of co-operation among the member countries of the EAC.
- Trade, investment and industrial developments.
- Monetary and fiscal affairs
- Infrastructure and social services
- Human resources
- Science and technology
- Free movement of the factors of production
- Agriculture and food security
- Environmental and natural resources management
- Tourism and wildlife management
- Health, social and cultural activities
- The role of women in socio-economic development
- Participation of the private sector and the civil society and
- Co-operation in political matters including defence, security, foreign affairs, legal and
judicial affairs.
Funding
The core budget of the East African Co-operation is funded by equal contributions from
the member states, Regional programmes are funded through the mobilization of
resources from both within and outside the region.
Problems of the East African Community
The East African Community is facing the following problems:
Poor transport and communication systems which discourage economic activities
among the member state.
Political instability within individual countries, for example, in Uganda, there are
frequent wars between the government forces and rebels.
There is a small size of the market in the region due to low income among the people
Lack of funds which limit the community’s to implement some projects.
Uneven distribution of gains among the member states due to different levels of
economic development.
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There are few goods for exchange and the volume of trade is low because all the East
African countries produce similar primary agricultural products and have a low level of
industrial development.
Weak private sector, in the region of East Africa the private sector is incapable of
utilizing the available resources and establishing large trade relationships.
Factors that Favour East Africa Co-operation
The following are factors that favour East Africa Co-operation:
(i) Common Language: People of East Africa speak the same language, Kiswahili. This
facilitates effective communication in various Economic, social and political
relationships among the people of East Africa.
(ii) Political Commitment and Will: The political leaders of the East African states are very
committed to implement various decisions and implement the objectives of the
community.
(iii) Political Stability: The region of East Africa is relatively more peaceful than other
regions of Africa. This provides a conducive environment for investment, by both
foreign and local investors. Also, it allows for free movement of people from one
state to another to engage in economic activities such as trade.
(iv) Abundance of Natural Resources: The region of East Africa is endowed with natural
resources such as minerals, fertile soil and good climatic condition which attract more
investments.
(v) Infrastructure of the Former East African Community: The current East African community
still enjoys some of the remaining infrastructure of the former East community, such
as its former Head quarter in Arusha, Tanzania, which was used as the ground for the
formation of the new East African Community.
Benefits of the East African Community to the member states
(i) Expansion in the Size of the Market: A combined population of all the countries of East
Africa makes a total population of about 80 million people. This creates a very big
chance of market for traders in the region.
(ii) Economies of Scale/Mass Production: Producers in the member countries are expected to
enjoy economies of scale due to expansion in the size of the market
(iii) Attraction of Foreign Investment: There is attraction of foreign investments as a result of
removal of some trade barriers, such as tariffs and creation of a wider single market.
(iv) Mobility of Resources: There is increase in the mobility of resources, such as labour and
capital, in the region from one member state to another. That mobility has increased
employment opportunities, reduced cost of labour and increased the utilization of
resources.
(v) Political and Social Understanding: East African co-operation has increased the
understanding among the leaders and the people of East Africa.
(vi) Technological Transfers: The community has opened chances for transfer of technology
from one member state to another. A technologically backward nation benefits from
the technologically advanced nation.
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Expected costs to member countries

Member countries in the East Africa Community, despite the gains, are likely to incur the
following costs:
(i) Uneven distribution of benefits: In this co-operation, a more economically strong nation is
likely to gain more than a less economically strong nation. A more economically
strong nation benefits from the increase in the size of the market and more
opportunities for investments in other countries. Nonetheless, these benefits are
unlikely to be obtained by economically weak nations.
(ii) Decline of infant industries: Due to the removal of tariffs, the infant industries in some
member country are likely to lose markets for their products, since they may not
compete against industries in other nations that are more advanced.
(iii) Loss of revenue: The government revenues, in form of tariffs, declines due to the
removal of tariffs.
(iv) Capital and brain drain: The factors of production, such as labour, tend to move from
where they are paid less to where they are paid much higher. This, again, is probable
to affect an economically backward member nation.
(v) Demerits of specialization: East African co-operation enables each member state to
specialize in the production of the commodity in which it has a comparative
advantage, however, specialization can cause serious problems to the member
countries in case of price fluctuation of the commodity of specialization.
What should Tanzania do in order to benefit from the EAC?
Tanzania is currently the least advantaged in the EAC as compared to Kenya and Uganda.
It is relatively poor, and faces a lot of challenges from her counterparts. The level of
education, as well as science and technology, are the crippling factors in her attempt to
enjoy the economic advantages that the EAC may bring. In order to realise economic
benefits from her membership in the EAC, the following should be done:
• The quality of education has to be improved in order to ensure the production of
competitive manpower that can be absorbed in various places in East Africa.
Currently, the quality of education in Tanzania is so disappointing to the point that it
does not instill confidence in the Tanzanians that they can compete with the
Ugandans and Kenyans in the job market.
• Health services have to be improved in order to have energetic manpower that can
effectively utilise the local resources for sustainable development.
• The country should continue maintaining peace and security in order to attract more
investors and tourists into the country.
• The government should strive to improve local industries and agricultural sectors in
terms of capacity and quality of goods produced, in order to compete in the regional
market.
• The country should also work hard to improve its infrastructure which is largely
dilapidated in many places. Infrastructure like road network and railway system, as well
as telecommunication system will facilitate transport and communication within the
country, which, in turn, will promote internal trade and industrial development. Trade
and industrial development will, in turn, lead to fast economic development to compete
with Kenya and Uganda.
• There should be improvement in the power supply system. Reliable power supply
system will stimulate industrial development and, in turn, propel the economic
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development of the country. Hence, various sources of energy and power have to be
put in place so as to do away with the current erratic power supply system that has been
hindering effective economic development.
• The country has to continue conserving the environment and ensuring proper
utilisation of the environmental resources.
• The government should work out the programme under which it will keep on
collecting public views on the fast-tracking of the regional political federation that the
member countries are struggling for.
• Mass awareness campaigns to sensitise Tanzanians on the need to support the EA’s
federation have to be conducted. In other words, the local people have to participate in
various activities that are geared towards realising the attainment of the EA’s political
federation.
The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
SADC is the association of seven countries from central and southern Africa, these
countries include Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Swaziland,
Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, and the republic of South Africa, which joined in 1984.
The SADC was formed to replace the former Southern African Coordination Conference
(SADCC) which came into existence in April 1980 with the overall objectives of:
- Helping Southern African states to become self -reliant and reduce dependency on the
Republic of South Africa.
- Attaining regional integration
- Mobilizing resources
- Securing international understanding
In April 1993, the heads of states of the member countries held a meeting in Mbabane,
Swaziland, to ratify a treaty to change SADCC into SADC.
Objectives of the SADC
The SADC has the following objectives:
(i) To help member states to secure genuine and equitable regional integration.
(ii) To mobilize resources from the region and elsewhere that may be beneficial for all the
member states.
(iii) To foster international co-operation.
The above aims are to be achieved through:
• Improved trade arrangement among the member countries.
• Improved transport and communication links and systems.
• Development of agriculture and industries.
• Developing and harnessing of energy resources.
• Developing and training manpower.
• Use of appropriate financial policies.
• Reduction of dependency on other nations.
Problems Facing the SADC
The SADC is facing the following problems:
(i) The SADC states tend to cater for their own national interests first before those of
SADC
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(ii) Member nations have attained different levels of economic development; hence there
are uneven levels of development among the member nations.
(iii) Lack of qualified and skilled personnel to run the integration, hence they depend on
technical assistance from developed nations.
(iv) Weak financial base which forces the member states to depend on foreign assistance.
(v) Most of the member states produce similar agricultural products such as coffee,
cotton, maize and tobacco. Therefore, they fail to make exchange among them.
(vi) Deteriorating terms of trade in the world market.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
Before 6thNovember, 1993, COMESA was known as the preferential trade area for
Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA).
Objectives of the COMESA
The COMESA was established to achieve the following objectives:
To promote and facilitate co-operation among the member states in trade, industry,
agriculture, transport and communication.
To harmonise and coordinate development strategies, policies and plans within the
region.
To improve the environment for investment and growth of the private sector.
To encourage co-operation in monetary affairs in order to facilitate sub-regional
integration.
To establish joint industrial and agricultural institutions with the aim of increasing the
sub-region's production capacity.
To make trade much easier within the region through a reduction, and eventually
reducing tariffs by 80% by the year 1996, and the introduction of a common currency
in the year 2005.
To build a strong economic base for its members as a step towards the economic
independence of the region.
To improve the security and overall welfare of the people.
Achievements of the COMESA
Since its establishment, the COMESA has had the following achievements:
Tariffs has been reduced
The member states have become more co-operative in the field of trade, industry and
agriculture.
The organisation has launched a bank, which finances trade and development projects.
The Headquarters for the Bank is in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The volume of trade has increased among the member states.
The COMESA has its own currency.
The number of members has been increasing.
Problems Facing the COMESA
The COMESA is facing the following problems:
Uneven levels of economic development; some member states are poorer than other
member states.
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Differences in the values of currencies discourage trade among member states, since it
becomes more expensive for a country whose currency has a lower value, to import
from a country whose currency is stronger, in terms of value.
Lack of commitment among the members towards the implementation of the
objectives set by the organization. Some member countries are reluctant to reduce
tariffs.
Differences in languages used by member states, some of the different languages
which are used by member states include, Portuguese, English and French. These
differences in languages affect effective communication among the people when they
come in contact for economic activities such as trade.
Reluctance of some member countries, such as Rwanda, to reduce tariffs as agreed by
the other member states.
Achievements of the COMESA
Since its establishment, the COMESA has made the following achievements:
Member countries have become more co-operative in the field of trade, industry, and
agriculture.
The organization has launched a Bank, the trade and development bank, which
finances trade and development projects, its headquarters is in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The COMESA has created its own currency.
Tanzania and the COMESA
Tanzania officially pulled out of the COMESA in September 2000.
Reasons for Tanzania's Withdrawal from the COMESA
Tanzania pulled out of the COMESA due to following reason:
Tanzania was experiencing trade imbalances against other members; its balance of
trade had been unfavourable for some years.
More contributions due to multiple memberships of Tanzania in other regional
groupings such as East Africa co-operation and SADC which had similar objectives.
Tanzania depends much on revenues from import tariffs, which it was losing by being
a member of the COMESA.
The low level of industrial development made Tanzania to be only a market for goods
from other more industrialized members such as Zimbabwe and Kenya. This could
affect the development of the industrial sector.
There was problem of dumping of goods from more industrially developed countries.
Impacts of the Withdrawal from the COMESA
The following have been the impacts of Tanzania’s withdrawal from COMESA:
- Decline in the market of Tanzania's goods in other COMESA members
- Revenue through tariffs can be recollected
- Goods from COMESA countries are more expensive
- Transit charges through COMESA countries are high
The European Economic Community (EEC)
The Origins of the Community, as the common market, came into existence. Once again,
the UK participated in early negotiations but then withdrew.
After two earlier abortive attempts to join the EC, the UK finally became a member
in 1972, together with Ireland and Denmark. Norway decided, by a referendum, not to
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become a member. Greece became a member in 1981, and Spain and Portugal joined in
1986. The introduction of the single European Act, in 1987, completed the process by
which these twelve economies function as one.
The main features of the European Economic Community
There are two main features of the EC.
(a) Customs Union: The establishment of a full customs union involves both the abolition
of tariffs between the members and the erection of a common external tariff to the
rest of the world; if each country did not have the same external tariff, then imports
would simply flood the community through the member states with the lowest tariffs.
To arrive at the common external tariff, the general policy has to take the arithmetic
mean of the previous six tariffs. In some cases, e.g. the imports of products from
France's tropical ex-colonies, the lowest duty was adopted since there was no conflict
with domestic production. Several of the old colonial states have associated status
with the EC. The original arrangement for these states was superseded by the Lome
Convention in 1975. Under this, 46 developing nations in Africa, the Caribbean and
the Pacific (ACP states) are allowed to send all their industrial exports and most of
their agricultural exports to the EC duty free.
When the UK joined the EC, it was particularly difficult for her to agree to the
common external tariff because she wanted to protect Australia, Canada and New-
Zealand. The agricultural products of the highly efficient farmers in these temperate
countries were in direct competition with European farmers. The UK was not
allowed to join until she agreed to erect considerable tariff barriers against her
Commonwealth partners.
(b) Common Market: The EC is colloquially known as the Common Market, but this is
only one aspect of its organisation, although potentially the most important. The term
refers to the running of the economies of the members as if they were one, i.e. the
common prices and production policy of the ECSC was to be extended to all
industries. The common market agreement implies a free movement of labour, capital
and enterprise within the EC. So far, it is only in the Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) that has a truly common policy. Despite the fact that the EC has been in
existence since 1957, it is only in 1992 that a true common market was created.
The structure of the European Economic Community
The Treaty of Rome envisaged that the EC would eventually lead to economic and
political unity although this has become more unlikely at present, than it seemed some
years ago, it is possible to discern the four essential components of state organisation.
(i) The Council of Ministers: This could be described as the executive or cabinet of the EC.
It consists of one minister from each state. The choice of minister depends on what is
being discussed. If, for instance, the issue is agriculture, then it would be the ministers
of agriculture who attend. Voting in the council is weighted; the U.K, for example,
has ten votes while Luxembourg has only two. The council is assisted by a committee
of permanent representatives.
(ii) The European Commission: This consists of 17 permanent commissioners; two from
each of the five largest countries and one from each of the other seven. The
commission is the secretariat of the EC. Behind the commission are staffs of about
2500 people working in the commission’s headquaters in Brussels. The commission is
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responsible for the day-to-day running of the community. It is also responsible for the
development of the EC policies.
(iii) The European Parliament: The institution which meets in Strasbourg is the embryonic
legislature of the EC. Originally, it consisted of MPs nominated by national
parliaments. However, since 1979, members have been elected directly to the
European Parliament. At present, there are 518 members of the European Parliament
(MEPs), of which the UK elects 81. As yet, the Parliament still has little authority or
power. Its main function is to monitor the activities of other institutions of the EC.
(iv) The European Court of Justice: Not to be confused with the European court of Human
Rights, the function of the European court of justice is to ensure that the law is
observed in the interpretation of the Treaty of Rome. It is the final arbiter on all the
questions involving interpretation of the EC treaties, and it deals with disputes
between member states and the commission, or between the commission and
business organisations, individuals or EC officials. It is, thus the judiciary of the EC.
Objectives of European Economic Community
European Economic Community was established to achieve the following objectives:
To harmonise policies for improving the living standards of the people of the member
countries.
Removal of traffic and non-traffic barriers among the countries.
To encourage coordination and co-operation in trade customs and to be harmonised
and standardised.
To ensure that national business policies do not harm other members to adopt the
common agricultural policy (CAP) for internal price support and variable import levies
aiming at protecting the farmer in the community from foreign competition.
Adoption of a common transport policy as regards development and the regulation of
road, rail and inland water transport.
Establishment of a common link with developing countries through other sub-
organizations like ECC-ACP agreements.
Establishment of a bank (European Investment Bank) to finance the economic
developments, give grants, loans, aids etc.
Success of the European Economic Community
It has emerged as the tightest association with well-stipulated policies.
It has progressed further into trade and the general economic integration. European
countries began using the EURO-Currency on 1st January, 2002. This is a great
achievement, though there are some of the people who still doubt the future use of
Euro-Currency.
By 1967, most restrictions on trade were removed and the common external tariff
could be into operation.
The farmers receive high prices for their products, which has encouraged the
promotion of agricultural performance in the European countries.
Failures/Problems facing the European Economic Community
The European Economic Community is facing the following problems:
Establishing a common currency has been achieved with many difficulties, and there
are some member countries, such as Britain, which have not joined the Euro-
Currency.
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There is a problem of aging of the population due to the strict policies on family
planning that focuses on birth control. This will lead to the problems of labour
scarcity, hence deceleration of the economic growth due to inefficiency in the
production process.
There are difficulties in integrating agricultural development because of the large
agricultural population of the member states.
There have been problems associated with overproduction due to the increase of
efficiency caused by the use of machinery. Overproduction has led to the decline in the
prices of agricultural commodities. Tanzania is related to the EEC through
membership in the Lome convention.
International Economic Co-operation
International economic co-operation refers to the relations which are established between
sovereign states. The relations are usually established at political, economic, diplomatic
and cultural levels. International Co-operation can take two forms
(i) Bilateral economic co-operation: This is the co-operation between two countries or
two independent organisations
(ii) Multilateral economic co-operation: This is the co-operation that involves more than
two countries.
Importance of Economic Co-operation
Economic co-operation has the following importance:
It leads to an increase in the volume of trade among the partner countries.
It leads to an increase in foreign investments.
Improves the welfare of the people through varieties of goods consumed at lower
prices.
Political understanding is enhanced through economic co-operation.
Transfer of technology increases through economic co-operation.
Countries enjoy comparative advantage through economic co-operation.
The size of the markets expands, thus enabling economies of scale to the firms in the
cooperating countries.
It increases mobility of labour and increases employment.
Disadvantages of Economic Co-operation
Economic co-operation has the following disadvantages:
It can create economic dependency.
In some cases, it may lead to capital drain.
Uneven distribution of gains may occur.
It can bring the effects of specialization if economic co-operation influences a nation
to specialise in a certain product, which often leads to problems when the demand for
the commodity declines in the world market.
Unequal exchange and exploitation of resources. Economic co-operation may lead to
massive exploitation of the country's wealth, which due to the unequal exchange and
expatriation of wealth abroad.
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Differences between Economic Co-operations and Regional Economic

Integrations
Economic Integration and Economic Co-operation differ in the following ways:
(i) Regional economic integrations are confined to a certain geographical area of the
continent, while economic co-operations have no regional boundaries. Economic co-
operations involve countries of different regions in a continent or world.
(ii) It is necessary for countries in a regional economic integration to have similar levels
of economic development, but that is not a necessary factor for international
economic co-operation, since countries of different levels of economic development
can establish economic co-operation, as it is the case of Lome convention and
AGOA, which are co-operations between a group of poor countries and EEC, and
between America and African countries, respectively.
(iii) Regional economic integrations usually involve the removal or reduction of trade
barriers such as tariffs, while an economic co-operation may exist without eliminating
the existing barriers.
(iv) Trade forms an important area of co-operation in a regional integrations while, in an
economic co-operations countries can cooperate in non trade economic activities
such as joint investments and exchange of technology.
(v) There is a definite organisation structure in regional integrations, but it is not so
important in economic co-operations, since countries can cooperate without having
any formal organs or organisation structure.
(vi) Similar political and social background is very important for regional economic
integrations but it is not important for economic co-operations. Countries may still
have economic co-operations even if they have different social political backgrounds.
For example, one of the reasons for the success of the East Africa Co-operation is the
similarities in political, cultural and social background among the five member
countries. On the other hand, there may be no political and cultural similarities
between Tanzania and Japan, but there is a strong economic co-operation between
the two countries.
Examples of International Economic Co-operations
The Lome Convention
This includes a series of trade and economic co-operation agreements between EEC and
countries from Africa as well as Caribbean and the Pacific states (ACP). The first Lome
convention was signed in 1976 at Lome, in Togo, by EEC and 46 ACP countries. The
second signing was effected in 1979 with emphasis on agricultural development, energy
policy etc. The third Lome Convention came into force on 1st March, 1985, with the
emphasis on the EEC assistance to ACP, sectoral programmes and further emphasis on
some of the terms put forth in the earlier convention. The forth Lome Convention was
conducted in 1990 in Kampala, Uganda, with emphasis on the increased co-operation
between the EEC and ACP countries in areas of trade, industry, agriculture, fight against
HIV/AIDS etc. However, the countries are still rigid to allow free trade in textiles.
Basic Provisions of the Lome Convention
(i) Trade co-operation: Goods from ACP countries should have a free access into EEC; free
from customs duty and other charges. There is regular consultation on all matters
concerning trade between the EEC and ACP. Also, the EEC conducts basic training
and advanced vocational training in trade for ACP state staff.
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(ii) Protection of ACP Industries: The ACP countries may impose tariff against the industrial
products from the EEC to protect ACP industries. Also, the EEC provides technical
training and advice to the ACP group.
(iii) Stabilization of Export Earnings (STABEX): EEC countries guarantee the stability of the
earnings from the ACP exports. This covers the products, mostly raw materials, on
which the ACP countries depend on, under this convention; the ACP group has more
control over the EEC development Fund than before. The ACP may enter an equally
favourable agreement with other industrialised or even the developing countries.
- Any ACP country may opt out of the Lome Convention if the agreement is no longer
satisfactory.
Advantages of the Lome Convention
The Lome convention has the following advantages:
- ACP countries can earn more stable income from their exports of raw materials; hence
they are now less vulnerable to price fluctuations.
- Countries have more access to grants and aid from the EEC.
- Any member has been given freedom to leave the Lome Convention if there is wish to
do so.
- It does not promote neo-colonialism.
Achievements
Lome convention has made the following achievements:
- All ACP export of manufactured goods and agricultural products has been granted
duty-free access.
- Establishment of STABEX scheme to guarantee ACP countries a specific level of
income on selected commodity exports to EEC.
- To encourage industrial co-operation through the transfer of technology and
encouraging of EEC private investors to establish industries in ACP countries.
- To grant ACP countries with some soft grant from EEC, through the European
Development Fund and European Investment Bank.
- Attempts are being made to stabilize earnings from minerals through stabilization of
export earnings from mineral products.
- ACP countries have increased in number.
Problems
Lome convention has been facing the following problems:
- Low income among the ACP countries.
- There are poor transport and communication systems in the ACP countries. There
exist uneven levels of development among the member countries. This reduces
effectiveness and efficiency in the operation of the Lome Convention.
- The EEC members are still rigid to allow free trade in textiles.
- There are so many political conflicts among the ACP countries, leading to less
participation and contribution to the Lome Convention.
- The population in EEC is aging; hence European countries may in the long run fail to
facilitate the smooth operations of the Lome Convention due to having very old
people dominating the population.
- Low technology among the ACP countries.
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The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

This is the economic co-operation between the African countries and United States of
America. It was promulgated in the USA and signed into law on 18th May 2000, as title
one of the trades.
- The act offers tangible incentives for African countries to continue with their efforts to
open their economies and build free markets.
- The government of USA announced the creation of $ 200 million over-seas private
investment support facility that would give American firms access to loans guarantees
and political risk insurance for investment projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The president of USA announced the establishment of a trade and development
Agency (TDA) with its regional office in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the aim of
providing guidance and assistance to the governments and companies which seek to
liberalize their trade laws, improve the investment environment and take advantage of
AGOA.
Achievements of AGOA
Lome convention has made the following achievements.
- During the first half of 2001, total trade between America with sub-Saharan Africa
rose by almost 17%.
- The US imports from the region exceeded $ 11.5 billion.
- Some countries, such as Eritrea, Seychelles, Madagascar and Senegal, saw their exports
to the USA increased by 100%.
- In Kenya, a public project, as a result of AGOA, created new 150000 jobs.
- In Lesotho, textile sectors expected to inject $122 in investment.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO)
This organisation was established in 1995 by the Marrakesh agreement. It was established
mainly to over-see the implementation of all the multilateral agreements that have been
negotiated in the Uruguay round and those that will be negotiated in future.
It has over 140 member countries and accounts for over 97% of the world trade.
Decisions are made by all the members through a consensus.
The top decision body of WTO is the Ministerial conference which meets at least once
after every two years.
Below the Ministerial Conference is the General council, which meets several times a
year at the Geneva headquarters. It is a trade policy review body, and dispute
settlement body. Under the general council, there is the goods council, the services
council and the intellectual property council which reports to it.
In 1997, an agreement was reached on the area of telecommunication services, in
which 69 the governments agreed to take trade liberalisation measures that went
beyond those of the Uruguay round. Also, negotiations for tariffs free in information
technology products were also concluded by some member countries.
In 2001 a meeting was held in Doha Qatar in which a number of issues were
discussed, including negotiations on non-agricultural tariffs, trade and environment,
anti dumping, subsidies etc. The objectives of WTO are similar to those of GATT,
which has ceased to exist as a separate institution and has become part of WTO. These
objectives have been expanded to give WTO a mandate to deal with:-
Trade in services.
Protect and preserve the environment.
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Functions of WTO
WTO has the following functions:
(i) To facilitate the implementation, administration and operation of Uruguay Round
legal instruments and of any new agreements that may be negotiated in the future.
(ii) It provides a forum for further negotiations among the member countries on matters
covered by the agreements as well as on new issues falling within its mandate.
(iii) Thirdly, it shall provide a forum for further negotiations among the member countries
on matters covered by the agreements as well as on issues falling within its mandate.
(iv) It is responsible for the settlement of differences and disputes among its member
countries.
(v) It is responsible for reviewing trade policies of the member countries.
(vi) It gives technical and financial assistance to developing countries.
Specialized Agencies in International Economic Co-operation
These are separate independent organisations that are related to the UNO by special
agreements. Their activities are coordinated the UNO through the economic and social
council
IFC
It is the International Fund/Finance for Co-operation. The fund was formed in 1956 as
an affiliate of the World Bank. It promotes investments in poor countries by assisting the
private sector enterprises. It has its headquarters at Washington, D.C.
IDA
It was formed in 1960 as an affiliate of the World Bank to promote economic
development through long term loans for less developed countries.
GATT
This is the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The GATT came forward as a result
of the 1947 General Conference. It is a multi-national treaty encompassing 80% of the
World Trade.
Objectives of GATT
GATT was established to achieve the following objectives:
(i) To protect the domestic infant industries, basically through tariffs.
(ii) To control the powers and activities of multi-national enterprise/
agencies/organisations.
(iii) To encourage the growth, development and more equitable distribution of gains from
(iv) To harmonize and liberalize both the tariff and non-tariff measures to negotiations.
UNCTAD
This is the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. It was established in
1964 to handle LDCs' trade obstacles. It was a result of the unfavourable North to South
co-operation.
Objectives of UNCTAD
UNCTAD was established to achieve the following objectives:
(i) To give LDCs trade (tariff) preference through encouraging and promoting both
manufactured and semi-manufactured goods.
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(ii) Strengthen and promote capital inflow to LDCs for development.

(iii) Promoting self-reliance and economic co-operation among the developing countries.
(iv) Above all, promoting/encouraging/stimulating economic growth and development,
especially among the developing nations.
(v) To improve the terms of trade among the least developed countries by enlarging the
markets for their primary products, and also stabilize prices through international
commodity agreements.
(vi) The UNCTAD also aims at transfering technology rapidly to LDCs. This would
encompass capacity building, research and training for LDCs in and endeavour to
narrow the technological gap between the developed countries and the LDCs.
The World Bank
It is also known as IBRD, i.e. the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development. It was established in 1945 as a sister institution of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF members are members of the World Bank. It has
the USA, UK, Germany, France and Japan, as its major shareholders.
Objectives of the World Bank
The World Bank was established to achieve the following objectives:
(i) To help in the restructuring and development of the member states through genuine
and adequate investment capital.
(ii) To encourage balanced growth in international trade and achieve a better B.O.P
position.
(iii) The World Bank further promotes foreign investment, since private capital is often
insufficient to fund productive projects.
(iv) To finance projects/programmes like roads, railways, power, telecommunications etc;
aimed at improving the general welfare, especially among the poor population in
LDCs.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The IMF is an international financial institution which was formed after the
Brettonwoods conference of 1944 and came into operation in 1947.
Objectives of the IMF
The IMF was established to achieve the following objectives:
(i) To assist member countries with severe B.O.P problems through provision of loans,
technical, monetary advice and fiscal policies/ programmes.
(ii) To enhance foreign exchange stability and maintain orderly exchange
programmes/policies among the member states so as to avoid the competitive foreign
exchange depreciation.
(iii) To eliminate the unnecessary foreign exchange restrictions that may hamper trade
among countries.
(iv) The IMF also aims at providing technical assistance by sending experts to the
member countries that may need them.
(v) To promote international monetary co-operation as a basis of consultation and
collaboration on international monetary programmes.
(vi) To assist in the establishment of a multi-national system of payments in respect to
current transaction among the member states.
(vii) And, finally, to establish and expand a balanced growth of international trade.
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The IMF structural adjustment programmes (SAP)

These SAPs include a package of IMF conditions to LDCS for them to get the IMF’s
assistance. These conditions include:
(i) Reduction in the government expenditure, example on the social overhead
expenditure, i.e. infrastructure, health, education, social security, etc.
(ii) Devaluation. The IMF stresses that this would improve the B.O.P position of
developing countries by making imports more expensive them exports.
(iii) Improvement in tax collection. The IMF urges developing countries to expand their
tax base, so as to raise more revenues.
(iv) Strict monetary and credit policies. The IMF recommends credit restrictions and an
increase in interest rates, so as to reduce the money supply and reduce inflation.
(v) Trade liberalization. LDCs are being forced to liberalize their markets to foreign
imports through their manufactured products, because their exports are often faced
with restrictions by the developed countries.
(vi) Retrenchment of workers and demobilization. The IMF also recommends reducing
the number of civil servants and soldiers, though this is undertaken without proper
consideration of the manpower requirements of LDCS’ economies.
(vii) Wages freeze. This condition of the IMF, has, however, greatly affected the General
Welfare, especially among the working class.
(viii) Privatisation and encouragement of the private sector, where economic activities are
to be shifted from the state to the private sector in a bid to ensure profitability,
efficiency, proper management and accountability within the private sector.
(ix) Establishment of flexible foreign exchange rate policies. In this era of globalisation,
state control on economic activities has greatly been reduced. Quite often, forces of
demand and supply have been allowed to prevail, hence the need for a flexible/free
floating exchange rate system.
(x) In the case of LDCs, the IMF still recommends and encourages an increment
production in agricultural sector.
(xi) Where the state still controls the major means of production, the IMF emphasizes
efficiency in public sector enterprises.
Achievement of the International Monetary Fund
Since its establishment, the IMF has realised the following achievements:
(i) The fund has assisted the member states with balance of payments problems by
finding them so as to reduce the problem.
(ii) The fund has altered its original article according to the changing international
economic situation. For example. It has legalised free exchange rates, raised quotas
to increase capital resources, etc
(iii) The fund has provided financial support, especially under the special import
programme (SIP).This has led to an increase in varieties of commodities in the
market.
(iv) The liberation policies of the IMF, especially on trade, have reduced the problems of
scarcity of goods in many less developed countries.
(v) Policies, such as privatisation, have helped improve efficiency, accountability,
management, and have controlled corruption.
(vi) It has increased the inflow of foreign currencies to various countries.
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Failures of IMF
IMF has the following failures, despite its achievements:
(i) Controlling and restricting world trade still exists.
(ii) The funds lending rates are high and short term and indeed with high interest rates.
(iii) The IMF tends to discriminate against LDCs in favour of developed countries, who
are the major shareholders.
(iv) Following the collapse of the Brettonwoods system, under which the fund was
established, the IMF has failed to promote foreign exchange stability and orderly
exchange among the member states.
(v) The IMF has tended to interfere with the internal economic affairs/conditions of its,
member states. This is because the member countries have to fulfil the IMF
conditions before getting financial assistance.
(vi) The IMF policies have widened the gap between the poor and the rich in LDCs.
This is because such programmes have tended to favour the richer sections of the
populations.
(vii) Standards of living have deteriorated because of the strict IMF conditions of
increasing taxes, so as to widen the tax base.
(viii) Foreign exchange wastage has become a common problem in LDCs, due to the
IMF's liberation conditions, which has led to the importation of unnecessary goods.
(ix) Increased debt burden has occurred in a bid to stabilize the B.O.P position as
required by the IMF.
(x) Retrenchment has aggravated the problem of unemployment and this, too, has
affected the people's welfare.
(xi) The IMF polices have failed to protect the peasant farmers in LDCs because of the
abolition of price control programmes, e.g. the minimum price legislation.
(xii) Privatisation conditions of the IMF have greatly affected the locals, since they do not
possess enough capital to purchase expensive state enterprises that have been sold
off.
(xiii) Cost sharing in the education sector, as a condition of the IMF, has led to rampant
school dropouts resulting in many semi-illiterates and unemployed.
(xiv) Generally, the IMF policies have proved to be unpopular. This is because the former
the government’s pro-people expenditures have been stopped.
The International Children Education Fund (UNICEF)

The UNICEF was formed in December 1946 to help the governments to carry out
programmes for the benefit of children and youth. For this, UNICEF has the following
objectives:
(i) Gives permanent health services for mothers and children; control diseases of
children e.g. malaria, T.B.; yaws, leprosy etc. Provide food programmes by feeding
children, giving nutrition education etc.
(ii) Promotes child and family welfare by providing educational and vocational training
for the above areas.
(iii) To give technical aid in form of tools, food, money and short and long courses, etc.
UNESCO (The UN's Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization)

Formed on 4th November, 1946, with its headquarters in Paris.
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Aims of the UNESCO

The major aim of the UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world, by
promoting international collaboration in education, science, culture and communication.
Activities of the UNESCO
(i) It expands and guides education in order to enable each country to handle its own
development more effectively.
(ii) It trains teachers, educational planners and administrators, and also encourages
building and equipping of schools.
(iii) It promotes the scientific management of the environment and a better use of natural
resources.
(iv) It promotes the national cultural values and preserves the cultural heritage for
example, by preserving cultural identities, oral traditions, writing of books etc.
(v) To survey the needs of the poor countries to be assisted, e.g. in building their own
communication systems, promote teaching and learning of the social services so as to
realize human rights, peace and justice for all.
The International Labour Organization (ILO)
The ILO was established in 1919 by the Versailles peace Treaty, hence associated with the
League of Nations. In 1946, it was associated with the UN as a special Agency.
Aims of the ILO
• To raise the working and living standards of workers throughout the world.
• To eliminate social injustice, which leads to unrest and war.
• To advocate for full employment of workers.
Activities of ILO
- It encourages employment of workers in jobs that they fit most.
- It facilitates training and transfer of workers.
- It promotes the working conditions and ensures a fair distribution of the products of
labour.
- It advocates for the rights of workers to form trade unions, and encourages workers to
cooperate with their employers.
- It advocates for workers welfare health and safety at work places.
- It champions the provision of adequate nutrition, housing and recreational facilities to
the workers and their families.
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization)
Founded on 16th October, 1945, and headquartered in Rome.
Aims of the Food and Agricultural Organization
To eliminate hunger.
To raise the levels of nutrition and standards of living.
To improve production, processing, marketing and distribution of food and other
products from farms, fisheries and forests.
To improve the living conditions of the rural population
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Strategies of achieving its aims

(a) Promotion of:
(i) Investment in agriculture, better soil and water.
(ii) Investment in better crops and livestock yields, marine and inland fisheries.
(iii) Investment in mechanization of agriculture and in development of agricultural
research in the developing countries.
(b) Fighting against animal diseases that massively kill cattle, e.g. trypanosomiasis.
(c) Conservation of natural resources such as forests.
(d) Helps countries to prepare food for emergency situations and provide food relief
where necessary.
(e) Improves the seed production and distribution in the developing countries
WHO (World Health Organization)
The WHO was founded on 7th April, 1947 with its headquarters in Paris, France.
Activities of the WHO (World Health Organization)
(i) To supply technical aid for fighting epidemics such as cholera, malaria, T.B. etc.
(ii) To support public health services in the developing countries by training the
personnel.
(iii) To promote research on health issues such as nutrition, mother/child care, control of
diseases etc.
(iv) To campaign for the immunization of 90% of all the children in the world by 2000.
Diseases in target are diphtheria, measles, tetanus, T.B, whooping cough etc.
(v) To direct and co-ordinate the global campaign against AIDS-to effect prevention and
control of infection.
Review Questions
1. What is regional economic integration?
2. Differentiate between regional economic integration and economic co-operation.
3. What are the advantages of economic co-operation?
4. Discuss the objectives and achievements of COMESA.
5. What is the impact of Tanzania withdrawing her membership from COMESA?
6. Examine the benefits that Tanzania gains from the East Africa co-operation
7. Explain the main problems of economic integration in Africa.
8. Discuss the main conditions for a successful economic integration.
9. Why has Tanzania not benefited much from the AGOA programme like the other
member African countries?
10. Discuss the Lome convention.
11. What are the benefits that the less developed countries gain through the world trade
organization?
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CHAPTER SEVEN
ECONOMIC PLANNING
Introduction
Meaning of Planning
Planning is the process of organizing available resources of a country for the purpose of
fulfilling certain objectives.
What is a plan?
A plan is a set of goals/ objectives that a person/ the government intend to achieve.
Planning to:
(a) A Consumer: Planning is the process of making decisions on how to use the available
income to satisfy wants.
(b) A producer: Planning is process of making decision on how the available resources can
be allocated to produce goods and services. It is the decision on
- What to produce
- How to produce
- For whom to produce
(c) The government: Planning is the conscious or deliberates the government’s effort in
influencing, directing and controlling economic variables. These variables are
economic phenomena which affect the economy, i.e. cause economic changes.
Examples of such variables are:
(i) Investments
(ii) Consumption
(iii) The government expenditure
(iv) Inflation
(v) Population change
(vi) Employment and unemployment
(vii) Foreign trade (Export and Import)
Types of Economic Planning
There are two types of economic planning:
1. Partial Planning
This is a type of economic planning which is based on individual sector (units) of the
economy, where the government may plan to develop only one sector of the economy.
An example of such a plan is the basic industrialization program of 1975-2000, which was
a plan intended for developing industrial sector in the covering period.
2. Comprehensive Planning
It is a type of planning in which all sectors of the economy are taken into consideration
and it is made by the central the government to meet the needs of the whole country. An
example of a comprehensive planning is the national annual budget. The comprehensive
planning has the following three periods:
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(a) Short Term Plan: This takes six months up to two years for the objectives of the plan to
be implemented or achieved. An example of such a plan, Tanzania is the national
budget in.
(b) Medium Term Plan: This takes a duration of 2 to 7 years for the objectives to be
achieved. Example of such a plan was the Ujamaa (socialism) of 1972 and agriculture
for life and death.
(c) Long Term Plan: This takes a long period of time for the objectives to be implemented
and achieved. It takes a period of 15 to 20 years. Example of such a plan is the basic
industrialization strategy.
Features of an Economic Plan
An Economic plan has the following features:
1. It covers a Certain Period
An Economic plan must have a time limit in which the intended objectives should be
covered. For example, two years, five years, etc.
2. It Addresses a Particular Issue or Problem
An economic plan must show which issue or problem it deals with, e.g. a plan to promote
industrial development; a plan to promote rural development; or a plan to control
economic problems like inflation, unemployment, etc.
3. Consistency and Coordination
Various economic plans in different sectors need to be coordinated in order to ensure
growth of all sectors of the economy and smooth implementation of the plans, i.e. there
must be a backward and forward linkage between agricultural and industrial sectors, and
plans must be consistent with the prevailing situation and aim at implementing what is
intended in the plan. For example, a plan to develop the industrial sector must be made if
there is availability of funds to develop the sector, and such funds must be used for
developing industries and not otherwise.
4. Plan Evaluation or Appraisal
This is the process of assessing the costs and benefit of projects in a certain plan. It
examines the suitability of the projects to the society and the social costs that may occur.
Under such a situation, the decision will be based on the merits of the project.
5. Policies and Strategy

Policies are statements indicating the type of economy that a nation wants to build. They
act as guidelines for the implementation of a particular plan. For example, a plan to
develop industries must have various policies which will help implement the plan, such as
import control policy; to control importation of goods from abroad can be used to
protect the domestic industries and tax relief policy; to encourage investments in the
sector. Also, a plan must have strategies to assist its implementation. Strategies are
statements indicating how the policies will be implemented. For example, in the Ujamaa
socialism policy, various strategies were used, these include:
(a) Use of force to make people adopt the policy.
(b) Education to the people.
(c) Provision of various incentives to those who were ready to live in the Ujamaa villages
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6. A plan must have Goals

An economic plan must state what it intends to do and achieve. A goal is the target that a
plan is directed towards, example of such targets are;
- To promote growth of the national income
- To create employment
- To promote development of other sectors
- To reduce dependency, etc.
7. Planning Machinery
This is the government’s ministry or department which coordinate various plans from
different sectors and lays down the plans for the whole country/economy. For example,
in the basic industrialization, the planning machinery was the ministry of industry and
planning.
8. A Plan is a Social National Institutional Process

A plan is said to be social in the sense that its formulation involves people and it’s made
for the people. A plan is intended to achieve specific objectives for the benefits of people.
It’s a rational institutional process, meaning that a plan is made by a certain institution that
is responsible for the formulation of the plan, which follows the objectives and principles
that are consistent with the needs of the society
Economic Planning in Different Economic Systems
(a) In Capitalist Economy
In capitalist economy, there is no central planning, price mechanism takes charge of all the
major economic decisions of what to produce, how to produce, for whom to produce,
where to produce, when to produce, etc. In this system, partial planning, i.e. planning by
individual units of firms or consumers is the most dominant type of planning. Individual
entrepreneurs plan for their firms. The role of the government is only to provide a
conducive environment or indication to the private sector, but not ready made decisions
of what the individuals are supposed to do in the course of running their firms. Instead,
the government is concerned with other functions such as protections of the state, law
and order, and ruling its citizens.
(b) In Socialist Countries
In socialist countries, there is a central planning. The government is involved in
formulation and implementation of various economic plans on behalf of its citizens. All
plans in socialist countries are comprehensive, i.e. they cover the whole nation. The aim of
the government is to:
- Raise the welfare of its citizens
- Raise the national income.
- Remove income inequalities, etc.
(c) In Mixed Economy

In mixed economic system, both the government and price mechanism are involved in
making decisions. The government plans allocation of resources in some areas, while the
individuals also make decision for their individual firms.
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Advantages of Economic Planning

Economic planning provides the following advantages:
(i) Planning prevents misuse of resources, by ensuring that resources are allocated in the
most productive sectors of the economy, and avoids allocating resources in non
productive sectors.
(ii) Planning ensures that scarce resources are used in the best way possible, i.e. optimal
way.
(iii) Planning is necessary for equitable distribution of wealth. It helps to allocate
resources in the society in such a manner that it maintains equality of income among
the people. For example, the government can decentralize allocation of industries in
order to create equality in development among the regions in the country.
(iv) Planning is a powerful instrument of maintaining economic stability of the country.
Through planning, the government controls economic problems such as inflation,
unemployment, low growth of the national income, etc.
(v) Planning eliminates wasteful competition among the producers, which often leads to
over production, fall in prices and wastage of resources
(vi) Planning may lead to rapid growth of capital accumulation. Without planning, capital
goods may grow at a slow rate, because private investors become less interested in
developing the capital goods. This is because capital goods have a slower rate of
returns than consumer goods.
(vii) Planning is a good instrument through which welfare goods (public goods) can be
well provided, than if the supply of these goods is determined through price
mechanisms. This is because most public goods such as education, health, defence
and security are very difficult to be charged with a certain price, and they are
consumed by the majority of the citizen. In this case, private enterprises cannot
efficiently provide public goods.
(viii) Planning can be used as an instrument of soliciting (seeking) for foreign aid. Most of
the donor countries/institutions would like to know the plan of the recipient country
with indications of the needs of the country, the targets/goals, how the plan is to be
implemented and how the funds are to be used.
(ix) Planning is a powerful instrument of controlling standards and quality of goods and
services that are produced in the country. Through planning, the government can fix
certain standards of goods/ services that every producer is supposed to meet in order
to protect the welfare of its citizen.
(x) Planning is helpful in controlling negative externalities, i.e. the side effects of any
production activities. Examples of externalities are; environment pollution and
accidents. For example, by planning to build industries in non- residential areas, the
government is able to protect the citizens from the problem of noise and air
pollution.
Disadvantages of Economic Planning
Economic planning has the following disadvantages:
(i) Planning interferes with the free allocation of resources by the owners of the factors
of production. Because, under the planning system, the government decides what to
produce, how to produce and for whom to produce. Due to this, private incentives
and initiatives are discouraged.
(ii) Under the planning system, consumers’ freedom of choice is very limited. Because
the government determines what should be produced and what should be consumed.
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(iii) A lot of resources are used by the government officials in the process of planning.
Thus, planning increases burden to the government.
(iv) The government officials are involved in the planning process. The use of such
officials leads to bureaucracy in decision making, and therefore delays in reaching at
various decisions.
(v) Planning involves the government officials in the control of resources such a control,
under some circumstances, may leads to corruption, whereby the government
officials misuse the public resources for private benefits and not for public interests.
(vi) Planning may sometimes misallocate resources in the following ways:
When resources are allocated in non-productive sectors such as buying of arms.
Establishment of certain social services for the purpose of gaining political
popularity.
Establishing a certain project or service where it is least demanded.
(vii) Planning discourages competition among the producers and the suppliers of services.
This leads to inefficiency in production and provision of services and emergence of
monopoly the government enterprises which are usually inefficient.
(viii) Some the government plans fail due to the lack of resources for implementing such
plans and poor planning skills. This causes wastage of resources.
(ix) Many plans cannot foresee the future socio-economic changes because they take a
very long period of time to be implemented; as a result, they fail.
Problems of economic planning
Economic planning encounters the following problems:
(i) Lack of information: In many countries, especially the less developed countries, there is
no reliable and accurate information on various socio-economic variables such as
population, the national income statistics, the government budgets, etc. Therefore, it
becomes very difficult for the planners to make proper plans for such countries.
(ii) Lack of trained personnel in planning: The planning process requires people with skills in
the formulation and implementation of plans. In most of the less developed
countries, there is lack of trained personnel in the field of planning. Therefore, most
of the plans are not well prepared, hence fail to be implemented.
(iii) Existence of a large private sector: The existence of larger and strong private sectors in the
economy may harm some of the government plans. The private sectors may
sometimes not be willing to cooperate with the government in implementing the
government plans.
(iv) Foreign intervention: Planning, in less developed countries like Tanzania, is affected by
the interference from outside the country, especially from donor countries and
international financial institution. Therefore, the planners in the LDC's are forced to
implement ready made plans from the donor countries in order to meet the
conditions of getting financial aid. These plans, from the donors, sometimes may not
serve the country’s interests; rather serve the interest of donors themselves.
(v) Political interference: Politicians often uses planning as a tool of achieving their political
objectives, such as winning elections and increasing their popularity in their
constituencies. They sometimes manipulate resources, which were intended for some
development projects, to fund their political activities in order to please the voters.
(vi) Dependency on foreign aid: Most of the plans made in the LDC's depend on foreign aid.
These aids are very difficult to get, and when granted it is usually attached with some
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conditions and, in most cases, it does not come on time. This affects the planning
process and delays the implementation of plans.
(vii) Lack of commitment in implementation: For plans to be successful in their
implementation, all the effectors, in the process of implementation, must be full
committed to the implementation of the plans. However, most plans fail because
some effectors are not committed to implement what is supposed to be
implemented in the plans.
(viii) Shortage of planning machinery: The government plan must have planning machinery, the
i.e. the government’s ministry or department which is involved in formulation and
implementation of plans. However, in some countries like Tanzania, there are no
enough, government departments for the implementation of different plans.
(ix) Lack of funds: Planning is affected by the lack of funds for buying different resources
that are important for the establishment of projects of a plan.
(x) Lack of policies to support plans: Any plan must be accompanied by some policies that
support the plan. For example, a plan for industrialization must have some
protectionism policies which promote and protect domestic industries. Without such
policies, the plan for industrialization may fail because the local industries would be
affected by cheap imports.
Conditions necessary for a successful planning process
The conditions that are necessary for a planning process to be successful include:
(i) There must be accurate and reliable data.
(ii) The coverage of the plan must be known; whether partial or comprehensive.
(iii) There must be political commitment and will to implement the plan.
(iv) Political stability.
(v) Evaluation of the plan, i.e. there must be some assessment on whether the plan is
successful or not.
(vi) Planning machinery. For planning to be successful, there must be some institutions
to implement the plans
(vii) Time period. The period in which the plan will achieve its objectives must be clearly
stated. For example, two years, three years, four years etc.
(viii) Resource identification. A good plan must indicate the resources to be used, and
how the resources should be mobilised for use.
(ix) Feasibility of the plan. Planners must ensure that what is planned in different
projects can be achieved in a given period of time, and there are enough resources to
implement the plans.
Tanzania's development plans
Since independence, the government of Tanzania has been formulating various
development plans, one of the plans is, Five year development plan (1964-1969).
Background to this Plan
At the attainment of independence, the government of Tanganyika was aware of the
problems which were facing the country, as a result of that, in March 1963; a new ministry
of development planning was formed. International experts from France were recruited to
study the problem and come up with a realistic method by which they could be tackled.
These experts came with the following conclusions.
Income per capita was very low.
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Poverty of the country results more from structural deficiencies in the economic and
social fields than from real lack of potential within either of them.
In order for the national effort to be purposely directed, it is clear that logical planning
is necessary. As a result of the study, the government, through the by then president of
the country, Julius Nyerere, announced the new five-year development plan in May
1964.
The plan was to cover the period between 1964 and 1969, although it looked as far as
1980 by its long term effects.
The plan was to cost 246 million pounds.
Aims of the five year development plan
The five year development plan had the following aims:
To raise the annual per capita income of the country to 45 pounds, by 1980, from its
current, estimated at 19 pounds.
To increase the GDP growth by 6.7% per annum.
To have fully qualified Tanzanians to fill the entire skilled professional and
management jobs by 1980, instead of relying on expatriates as at present.
To increase the life span of the population from between 35 to 40 years up to 50years
by 1980. To have a population of 18 million by the same year.
To establish primary processing industries which would raise the value of Tanzania’s
exports and would at the same time render them less sensitive to price fluctuations.
To increase the growth of the manufacturing sectors to 15% by 1970.
To reduce the subsistence primary production from 60% of the GDP in 1960-2, to
39% by 1980.
Outcomes of the Plan
The five year development plan had the following outcomes.
The GDP grew by only 5% per annum, compared to the 6.7% which was targeted.
Total employment of agricultural wage employment, such as in the sisal industry, fell
by 5.4%, due to drought and fall in the price of exports.
Employment in manufacturing and public services increased.
Average wages in the private sector increased by 16.7% in 1965.
Production in industries increased by 11%.
By the years between 1963 and 1965, the private sector investment increased from 13.9
million pounds to 23.7 million pounds, while the public sector investment increased
from 10.3 million pounds to 13.7 million pounds.
By the mid 1967, the expenditures by ministries on development amounted to 24.7
million pounds.
1
Reduction in the relative size of the subsistence sector from about one third   of
3
the GDP, in 1960-2, to only 14% by 1980.
Bottlenecks to the Plan
The five year development plan faced the following obstacles:
(i) Factors outside the control of the planners: There were external economic factors outside
the control of the national planners. For example, in 1964-5, the expected growth in
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exports earnings was retarded by a fall in the prices of major exports such as cotton,
coffee and sisal, and by drought, which affected the volume of output.
(ii) Low inflow of expected foreign investments: The inflow of private investment capital and
official aid from overseas failed to match its planned contribution to the total capital
formation. It was anticipated in the plan that about 80% of Tanzania’s central the
government and the government enterprises investment was to be financed by funds
from abroad, and only over half of the country's total investment be financed from
overseas. This was too much optimism, since, in the long run, only 25% rather than
50% were financed from abroad.
(iii) Communication lag: There was a gap in communication between the planners who
produced the plan document, and the officials who were in of the implementation of
the plan and the other people who participated in it.
(iv) Departure of its planning experts: The plan was made by a team of French planners who
departed before the full implementation of the plan; this caused some problems in its
implementation.
(v) Withdrawal of assistance from Germany and Britain: Following Tanzania’s political disputes
with Germany and Britain, these two countries withdrew their technical and financial
support to Tanzania, as a result, most plans failed to be implemented due to lack of
support.
(vi) Shortage of skilled and technical manpower: There were shortages of skilled and technical
manpower to monitor the implementation of the plan.
(vii) Over and under allocation of resources in some projects: There was misuse of resources, since
resources were over allocated in some less important projects, while in other
important projects, resources were under allocated. This problem was caused by lack
of precise information on the preparatory stage of the projects and their phasing.
Review Questions
1. What is economic planning?

2. Describe the main features of economic planning.
3. “Planning is wastage of resources”. Discuss.
4. Explain the main advantages and disadvantages of economic planning.
5. What are the problems of economic planning?
6. What is comprehensive planning?
7. Why do most plans in the LDC's fail?
8. What is indicative planning?
9. Discuss the necessary conditions for planning.
10. “Planning is a social rational process”. Discuss.
11. Discuss the five year development plan between 1964 and 1969.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF TANZANIA
Meaning of Economic Structure

Economic structure is the way various sectors of the economy are organised in terms of
their roles, ownership and set up. Economic structure indicates the framework of
economic units that compose the economy.
Aspects of Economic Structure
There are two aspects of economic structure - Sectoral pattern and Ownership pattern.
Sectoral Pattern
The sectoral pattern shows various sectors which make up an economy. In Tanzania,
there are following three main sectors of the economy:
A. Agricultural sector (primary sector)
B. Industrial sector (secondary sector).
C. Tertiary sector (commercial and service sector)
A: Agricultural Sector (Primary Sector)
It is the sector which involves farming and other activities that produce raw materials such
as mining and fishing. In Tanzania, about 80% of the people are employed in this sector.
The sector contributes to about 60% of the country's Gross domestic product.
Evolution of Agriculture in Tanzania
1. Before Colonialism
Before the coming of the colonialists, agriculture in the country involved mainly food
production, and it was at subsistence level due to the low population and the poor
technology used.
There was no surplus of the products produced.
2. During Colonialism
During colonialism, the nature of agriculture changed.
Colonialists put more emphasis on the production of cash crops, such as coffee and
cotton, than on food crops.
Colonial agriculture was forceful in nature; Africans were forced to grow cash crops
and alienate their fertile soil.
To ensure a constant supply of labour, the colonialists introduced tax, forced labour,
the migrant labour system and the land alienation policy.
3. After Independence
After independence, the government of Tanzania took the following steps to boost the
agricultural sector:
Emphasis was put on both cash and food crops.
Introduction of Ujamaa villages in 1974.
-Establishment of state farms.
Establishment of the co-operative and rural development bank to assist the farmers
and co-operative societies.
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Provision of subsidies to the peasants.

Introduction of agricultural extension officers.
Nationalisation of plantations that were owned by the white farmers before the
independence.
Roles of Agriculture in the Tanzania’s Economy
Agricultural sector plays the following key roles in the Tanzania’s economy:
It supplies food to the country's population.
It provides raw materials to the industrial sector.
It provides employment and income to majority of the Tanzanians.
It is the main source of the national income; about 60% of the GDP come from the
sector.
It is the main source of foreign earnings.
It promotes other sectors of the economy such as trade and industry.
It provides revenues to the government in form of tax.
Problems Facing the Agricultural Sector in Tanzania
Tanzania’s agricultural sector faces the following problems:
(i) Unfavourable climate/unreliable weather e.g. unreliability rainfall.
(ii) Shortage of capital to buy the farm implements. This forces the farmers/peasants to
use poor farm implements such as the hand hoes.
(iii) Dependence on nature in the cultivation of crops; a larger percentage of agriculture
in the country depends on rainfall and very few people apply irrigation. Also the
output depends on the natural fertility of the soil, not on the modern methods of
farming.
(iv) Lack of storage facilities, as a result, many crops get destroyed after harvesting.
(v) Poor marketing arrangements, as a result, farmers sell their crops on credit at very
low prices.
(vi) Pests and diseases which affect the crops.
(vii) High cost of the inputs, such as fertilizers, due to the withdrawal of the government’s
subsidies and currency devaluation.
(viii) Poor infrastructure, like the transportation and communication system. This hinders
the transfer of crops from where they are produced, to the areas where they are
demanded.
(ix) Calamities brought by natural catastrophe such as droughts and floods.
(x) Price fluctuation in the world market.
(xi) The problem of rural to urban migration, which reduces the labour force that is
necessary for employment in the agricultural sector in the rural area.
Fluctuations in the Price of Agricultural Products
Price fluctuations are changes in the prices in form of "ups" and "downs" over a period of
time as a result of the changes in demand and supply. The prices of agricultural products
are unstable; they fluctuate more widely than the prices of industrial products. This is one
of the problems facing developing countries, since agriculture is the ‘back-bone’ of such
countries.
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Causes of Fluctuations in Price of Agricultural Products

(i) Natural factors such as weather, pests and diseases may reduce the volume of
output. With favourable natural conditions, output increases, leading to a fall in the
prices. Unfavourable natural factors lead to a fall in output and, hence an increase
in prices.
(ii) Agricultural products are perishable: Therefore, they should be sold immediately
after harvest and, consequently, this leads to a fall in their prices. Before harvest,
the supply is so small such that the prices shoot up.
(iii) Agricultural products are sometimes inputs. They, therefore, form a very small part
of the total cost of production, e.g. rubber in the case of car production.
(iv) Inadequate storage facilities for some agricultural products prompt farmers to
supply more, thereby, leading to a fall in prices.
(v) Gestation period: Once a given amount is planted, it is quite difficult to increase
the supply. The price, within a short run, will tend to rise. In the long run, the price
will tend to fall; since the amount supplied shall have increased.
(vi) Overproduction: As more agricultural products flood the market, their prices will
tend to drop.
(vii) Agricultural products, being raw materials, sometimes experience derived demand.
Changes in the prices of the final products made from the agricultural raw materials
may, too, cause changes in their prices.
(viii) Most agricultural products are quite bulky: This makes it difficult to transport them,
from places where they are cheap and plenty, to areas where they are expensive and
scarce.
(ix) The demand for foodstuffs is inelastic: When consumption is at its saturation point,
no more can be consumed even if the price is very low, or even when the
consumers’ income increases.
(x) Competition from artificial fibres from developed countries. For example, cotton
and sisal competing against synthetics, has greatly affected the prices of agricultural
products from developing countries.
(xi) Farmers’ ignorance: Planning amongst farmers is poor because they seem to be
ignorant about the relationship between output, gestation period and the level of
prices.
(xii) Pricing of certain agricultural products is made difficult further due to failure by the
farmers in assessing their values in terms of the costs of production involved.
(xiii) Fluctuations in the prices of agricultural products may also be attributed to the
practice of stock-piling by big consumer countries, especially when the prices are
low.
(xiv) The weak bargaining power of the producer countries, for their products, also leads
to price fluctuations.
(xv) The limited levels of diversification, because of the tendency to over specialize in
certain crops, too, lead to fluctuation in the prices of certain agricultural products.
(xvi) Poor Terms of Trade (T.O.T) of the poor countries whose economies basically
depend on agriculture.
(xvii) Weak international commodity agreements that have, at times, failed to regulate
quotas and the prices of agricultural products from the member countries.
(xviii) Inadequate stabilization fund to regulate the prices when the price of an
international commodity fluctuates.
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(xix) Limited state involvement as a result of the current era of privatisation, in which a
lot of freedom is given to the private sectors to estimate the prices at which they
sell their products.
(xx) Changes in the cost of production: When production cost increases, the prices of
agricultural products, too, will rise and vice-versa.
(xxi) Technological advancement of the developed nations: Where agricultural products
form the basic raw materials, techniques of savings the raw materials have been
developed, e.g. recycling of used products.
(xxii) The low income elasticity of demand for the agricultural products.
Effects of Price Fluctuations in the Price of Agricultural Products
When the prices of agricultural products fluctuate, it may they lead to the following
impacts:
(i) Fluctuating the government revenues: Revenues for the government are likely to
fluctuate, especially the export earnings.
(ii) Price fluctuation makes it difficult for the government to plan adequately, due to
unpredictable financial flows.
(iii) Agricultural producers may be discouraged due to the uncertainties arising from the
fluctuations due to the instabilities in the prices.
(iv) Agriculture, being a major employing sector, the levels of employment will tend to
fluctuate due to the instabilities in the price.
(v) Unfavourable terms of trade are likely to be experienced, since export prices tend to
fall below the import prices.
(vi) As the price of agricultural products fluctuates, so is the income of those engaged in
the sector.
(vii) Price fluctuations in the economy may cause a country to over depend on foreign
aid.
(viii) Balance of payments problems can occur in case the foreign exchange expenditures
exceed the foreign exchange revenues.
(ix) The level of imports will be greatly affected due to uncertainties in acquiring
adequate foreign exchange to finance them.
(x) Uncertain and unpredictable foreign exchange earnings.
Strategies for Improving the Agricultural Sector in Tanzania
The Strategies for Improving the Agricultural Sector in Tanzania include the following:
(i) Improvement of infrastructure, such as transport and communication, in order to
facilitate marketing of the agricultural products and the transportation of inputs.
(ii) Establishment of irrigation schemes in order to ensure a continuous cultivation of
crops throughout the year.
(iii) Encourage the use of organic fertilizers rather than inorganic fertilizers because
organic fertilizers are cheap and friendly to the soil.
(iv) Provision of credits and subsidies to peasants to enable them buy inputs such as
tractors, fertilizers, pesticides etc.
(v) Mechanization of agriculture in order to increase the land under cultivation and
improve the efficiency in production of agricultural products.
(vi) Control the prices of agricultural prices in order to eliminate fluctuations in prices.
(vii) Provision of education and training to peasants on the modern methods of
agriculture.
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Roles of the Agricultural Sector in the Development of the Industrial Sector

The Agricultural sector plays the following key roles in the development of the industrial
sector.
(i) It supplies input to the industrial sector in form of raw materials such as cotton.
(ii) It provides market for the industrial products such as fertilizers.
(iii) It is a good source of capital accumulation which can be used to develop the
industrial sector.
(iv) It provides food to the industrial workers.
(v) It provides a reserve team of labour that can be employed by the industrial sector any
time when demanded.
Improvement and Transformation Approach in Agriculture
Improvement approach in agriculture is to make changes within the same framework of
small scale peasantry agriculture. It aims at improving production by supporting the small
scale peasantry agriculture.
Improvement agriculture adopts the following ways of improving production of peasantry
agriculture:
- Encourage the use of labour saving devices such as plough
- Provision of credits and subsidies to the peasants
- Provision of incentives to the peasants
- Research on better seeds
- Biological innovations in agriculture, such as the use of manure
Transformation approach is the approach intended to modernize agriculture and
transform it to large scale production by applying modern technology in agriculture.
Transformation approach is based on the argument that the traditional tools of
agricultural production, such as hand hoes and pangas, are the hindrances towards
revolution in agriculture, and that they contribute to the low income of the peasants, thus
causing vicious cycle of poverty.
Transformation approach suggests the following measures for modernizing and
transforming agriculture:
- Encourage the use of motorized machines, such as tractors in agriculture.
- Irrigation schemes
- Settlement schemes
- Ranching
B. Industrial Sector or Secondary Sector
This is mainly concerned with processing of raw materials into finished goods. In
Tanzania, the industrial sector accounts for about 10% of the total employment and about
20% of the GDP.
Tanzania has the following types of industries:
(i) Processing industries.
(ii) Manufacturing industries.
(iii) Consumer goods industries.
(iv) Assembling industries.
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The Nature of Industries during the Colonial Period

During this period, the colonialist established industries for consumer goods, such as
cigarettes, biscuits, meat packing, etc, and semi processing industries in order to reduce
bulkiness of raw materials. Colonialists imported manufactured goods to replace the
locally produced goods.
Industries after Independence
After independence Tanzania introduced the following policies for the purpose of
promoting the industrial sector:
(a) Import-substitution industrialization strategy (1961-1975)
(b) Basic industrialization strategy (1975-1995)
Import-substitution Industrialization Strategy
This was a strategy in which formerly imported goods started being produced domestically
by the country's industries.
Advantages of Import Substitution Industrialization strategy
Import substitution industrialization has the following advantages:
(i) It can help to reduce deficit balance of payment because it reduces imports.
(ii) It helps to save foreign currency, which was formerly used to import goods from
abroad.
(iii) It generates foreign currency through exports.
(iv) It creates markets for the domestically produced raw materials.
(v) They provide important/necessary equipment to other sectors of the economy,
such as hand hoes for the agriculture sector.
(vi) The programme saves the country's foreign exchange expenditures, since it tends to
reduce the expenditures on imports.
(vii) Creation of employment. As domestic industrial production expands, more job
opportunities are also created for the natives.
(viii) Reduction of dependence. Import substitution reduces dependence on imported
goods, thereby promoting the spirit of self-reliance.
(ix) Increased levels of production. High levels of domestic production lead to the
expansion of the national output, hence results into economic growth.
(x) Infrastructure development. Import substitution programmes are likely to promote
and encourage the development of infrastructure in the country.
(xi) Domestic resource utilization. The strategy encourages the exploitation and use of
the available domestic resources.
(xii) Reduction in BOP deficit. Import substitution strategy is quite instrumental in
checking the Balance of Payments (BOP) deficits, as it minimizes the country's
foreign exchange expenditures.
(xiii) Skill development. The policy is vital in the development of the domestic skills,
which are important for production purposes.
(xiv) Economies of scale. Increased investment in the country (both foreign and
domestic) expands the level of production, and improves economies of scale.
(xv) Forward and backward linkages. Import substitution encourages inter-
complementarities in production, thereby creating both forward and backward
linkages.
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(xvi) Improvement in economic welfare. The strategy widens the scope of production
and the availability of goods and services at home. It will, consequently, increase a
wide variety of choice, so as to improve people's standards of living.
(xvii) Controlling imported inflation. By minimizing the volume of imports, the import
substitution industrial development strategy may greatly check the problem of
imported inflation.
(xviii) Reduction of dumping practices. The strategy aims at producing high levels of
output for the domestic market. This tends to minimize the dumping of cheap
imported goods into the country.
(xix) Industrialization. Import substitution is vital in the speeding up of the country's
industrialization process.
Disadvantages/demerits of import substitution
(i) In the poor countries, there is limited domestic consumer market due to the
prevalent low levels of income and the low purchasing power. Some products may
remain unsold; thereby leading to wastage of the resources invested in import
substitution industries.
(ii) Import substitution requires a lot of protection and subsidies from the government;
something that most government of the less developed countries cannot afford.
(iii) Some Import substitution industries require importation of machinery, raw
materials, capital equipment, etc, from abroad, which may lead to balance of
payments problem.
(iv) In the short run, import substitution strategy limits the country's export potential as
it concentrates on the production of goods to satisfy the domestic market.
(v) Most of the goods that are produced by these industries are of poor quality due to
the poor techniques of production.
(vi) Imported inflation is often encouraged by the need to import the required capital
inputs for the industrialization substitution strategy. In addition, this increases the
foreign expenditures of the country.
(vii) In the short run, import substitution industrial strategy limits the country's export
potential, as it concentrates on the production for the domestic consumption.
(viii) There is no doubt that some of these industries are often characterised by
inefficiency, which retards the economic growth.
(ix) Poor quality products. In the LDCs, the import substitution industrial strategy may
be good, but their products seem to remain poor in terms of quality.
(x) Such industries are usually urban-based due to market pull and other factors. This
leads to rural to urban migration.
(xi) The decrease or abolition of duties on imported raw materials and other
intermediate goods so as to reduce the cost of production for these industries
reduces the government revenues.
(xii) In the poor countries, the products of the import substitution industries have
insufficient market due to the desire, among the natives, to consume imported
goods.
(xiii) The import substitution industries tend to concentrate on the production of
consumer goods instead of capital assets. This limits the rate of investment for the
future.
(xiv) The strategy requires a lot in terms of manpower. Implies training of labour abroad,
which may necessitate a lot of expenses to the country.
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(xv) The import substitution industries may emerge as monopolies, due to high levels of
protection and lack of competition.
(xvi) In the poor countries, there is a common problem of inadequate capital. This will
definitely hinder the growth and the expansion of the import substitution industries.
(xvii) Import substitution industries tend to encourage foreign investments. However,
this has often resulted into profit repatriation.
(xviii) Production of luxury items. The strategy may lead to the production of luxury
goods, if it is to satisfy the already existing domestic consumer market.
(xix) There is need to provide a peaceful political atmosphere, fiscal and other incentives,
if foreign investors have to be attracted. This may prove difficult to the LDCs.
Basic Industrialization Strategy
This was adopted in 1975 in order to produce intermediate goods capital goods.
Examples, in Tanzania, of industries established under this strategy are Ubungo Farm
Implement (UFI) ZZK Mbeya, Kilimanjaro Machine Tools Mang'ura etc. These industries
succeeded to produce various equipments such as farm implements and spare parts.
However, these industries failed to achieve their objectives because of a number of
reasons, such as lack of capital, high cost of production, small size of the market etc.
Small Scale Industries Programme
Small scale industries, in Tanzania, were introduced in 1973. These industries were
expected to use low initial capital and low technology, especially indigenous technology,
depending on locally produced materials.
Roles of Small-scale Industries
Small-scale industries play the following roles in the economy:
(i) They offer market for the domestically produced raw materials.
(ii) Provide employment to the nature people
(iii) They provide forex by the way of exports
(iv) They provide grounds for future investment in heavy industries.
(v) They provide goods and services that are needed in the society.
Problems of Small-scale Industries
Small-scale industries face the following problems:
(i) They produce poor quality of goods due to low technology.
(ii) Lack of effective demand due to problem of income which most of the citizens face
(iii) Lack of proper infrastructure such as electricity, roads, water etc
(iv) Competition with large scale industries within and outside the country
(v) Lack of the capital that is necessary for buying inputs.
The Roles of Industrial Sector in the Economy of Tanzania
Industrial sector play the following roles in the economy:
(i) They provide employment to the people; about 10% of the people are employed in
this sector.
(ii) It generates the national income; about 20% of the GDP comes from the industrial
sector.
(iii) It is one of the sources of foreign currency.
(iv) It improves infrastructure in the areas where industries have been established.
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(v) Creates market for the agricultural sector because it was agricultural products as raw
materials
(vi) Provides a range of commodities to meet the needs of the consumers.
Roles of the Industrial Sector in the Growth of the Agricultural Sector
Industrial sector plays the following roles in the growth of the agricultural sector:
(i) It provides market for the agricultural products which are used as raw-materials.
(ii) It provides agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, hoes, tractors etc.
(iii) It adds value to the agricultural products.
(iv) It provides income to the people, which can be used to purchase agricultural products
(v) It stabilizes prices of agricultural products
Problems Facing the Industrial Sector in Tanzania
The industrial sector in Tanzania faces a number of problems which includes the
following:
(i) Poor management; people entrusted to run the public industries fail to perform their
function such as planning, making research etc
(ii) Lack of capital for buying inputs and employing skilled and unskilled labour
(iii) Weak domestic markets and foreign markets, due to the low income of the people,
and competition with products from outside the country.
(iv) Problems of infrastructure such as roads, electricity water etc.
(v) Location of industries in which some have been located away from the sources of raw
materials, market centres and skilled labour. This increases the cost of production and
transportation.
(vi) Lack of technology forces domestic industries to use a lot of forex to import
technology from outside the country. This may result to production of goods of low
quality, which ultimately fail to get market within and outside the country.
(vii) Low productivity of labour due to various reasons such as low wages, poor working
conditions, lack of security, poor incentives, low level of education etc.
C. Tertiary Sector
This involves trade, aid to trade and direct services.
Summary of the structure of the tertiary sector
Tertiary sector
Commerce Direct services
Trade Aid to trade - Teaching

- Law
- Medicare
Home trade Foreign Trade
- Retailing - Export - Transport
- Wholesale - Import - Banking
- Ware housing
- Insurance
- Advertising
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Roles of the Tertiary Sector in the Economy of Tanzania

Tertiary sector in Tanzania play the following roles:
(i) It ensures constant supply of goods and services to the people in form of trade.
(ii) It provides employment provision to the people.
(iii) It provides income in form of profit and wages.
(iv) It creates a conducive environment for investment to take place for example, banks
provide loans, insurances protect investments against risk or loss, etc.
(v) It helps to stimulate production by bridging the gap between the producers and
consumers through transportation and communication.
(vi) The tertiary sector stimulates other sectors such as the agricultural sector and the
industrial sector, because it enhances the transfer of goods, from the areas where they
are produced to the areas where they are demanded for consumption.
(vii) Direct services, such as teaching and training, provide skills and knowledge to the
population, which increases efficiency of labour. Some direct services, like medical
care, are necessary for creating a healthy labour force. Direct services, like law and
police, maintain peace and security, which are important protections of investments.
Ownership Pattern of Tanzania Economy
This refers to the ownership of the major means of production, that is, capital, labour,
land and entrepreneurship. It means who owns major means of production. The
ownership of the economy, in Tanzania, is divided into the following three sectors:
(a) Public sector ownership
(b) Private sector ownership
(c) Co-operative sector ownership
Background of Ownership Pattern in Tanzania
Pre Colonial Period
Before the coming of the colonialist the major means of production were owned
communally.
Colonial Period
During the colonial period, the major means of production were owned by individuals or
private ownership
After Independence
After independence, the ownership of the major means of production continued to be in
the hands of a few individuals up to 1967, when the Arusha Declaration was introduced.
The declaration transferred the ownership from the private sector to the public sector.
(a) Public Sector Ownership
This is the type of ownership whereby the major means of production are owned by the
government. In Tanzania, public ownership begun in 1967, as a result of the Arusha
Declaration.
Why the Public Sector?
It is often argued that business ownership should be left to the general public, and the
state should not complete with individuals. However, the public sector ownership is
justified by the following reasons.
(i) Certain units provide essential services, and if these were left to private enterprise,
the public might be exploited. For example, electricity and water which are essential
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both for household and industrial consumption, if the electricity company was
owned by private individuals, they would certainly charge so high to make the
maximum possible profit without considering the hardship that might be
experienced by the general public in the absence of electricity. Also, a profit
motivated electricity company would provide services in only those areas that are
likely to generate good revenue, hence ignoring the rural areas, thus hindering the
overall development of the country.
(ii) Certain services are unprofitable, though essential for the general well-being of the
people. The private sector will not want to engage in activities which do not show a
good return on capital, for example, the railway corporations in East Africa.
(iii) Certain types of establishment require a great deal of initial capital outlay. The
private sectors, particularly in developing countries, are unable to raise that much
money. An example is the airways. Even if the private sector or a few individuals are
able to raise that much money, they may not be willing to put it in one
establishment, due to the risks involved.
(iv) Since the government does not aim at making profit from its activities, essential
commodities such as water and electricity may be provided to consumers at a
cheaper rate. Even when a public corporation does make a profit, such profits go to
the government and are then spent for the benefit of the whole country.
(v) Certain activities like atomic energy are too risky to be left in the hands of the private
sector.
(vi) Often, the government establishments enjoy a monopoly in their relevant field, e.g.
there is no company competing with the Tanzania electricity Supply Company
(TANESCO). This means the scale of production, economies of scale, can be
reaped.
(vii) It is not always practical to have competition, for example, with railways. When it is
possible for one company to provide the service to the whole country, it is much
better that such a company be the government-owned than private owned.
(viii) There are some political considerations that influence the government to own
commercial units. For example, the government of Tanzania was committed to a
form of socialism that it believed was in the best interests of its people.
(ix) In developing countries, there is always a risk that the majority of their industries
may be owned or controlled by non-citizens. The government, therefore, finds it
appropriate to step in and buy off either the whole or a good part of the share capital
of such companies that are owned by non-citizens.
Advantages of Public Ownership
Public ownership has the following advantages:
(i) It reduces income inequalities among the people, because every individual in the
society has access to the major means of production; the government is able to reduce
the imbalances by providing all the people equal access to social services.
(ii) Exploitation is minimized because the government owns the major means of
production, and it provides the majority equal access to the major means of
production.
(iii) The government is able to provide a wider network of social services and other
investments in the country, because the government can easily plan the allocation of
these services and investments even in situations where people may not afford to pay
for the services.
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(iv) Wastage of resources is minimized; under the public ownership, the government is
able to minimize wastage, during the allocation of resources, by controlling wasteful
competition among firms.
(v) Economic crises are avoided through proper allocation of resources. The government
is able to control economic crises such as unemployment, inflation, overproduction,
deflation etc.
Disadvantages of Public Ownership
Public ownership has the following disadvantages:
(i) Inefficient in production and provision of services due to lack of competition.
(ii) Misallocation of resources due to establishment of some investments for political
and social factors and not for economic reasons.
(iii) Lack of commitment of the producers because the producers do not own the
industries
(iv) There is no strict control of property
(v) Due to public ownership, the private sector is completely ignored.
(vi) There is lack of freedom of consumption and production.
(vii) Since there is no profit motive and the employees are not directly answerable to the
government, the efficiency is usually very low.
(viii) Managerial staff of public organisations is appointed because of their political
affiliation; they may lack the managerial skills to run the organisations.
(ix) The government enterprises are often too big; hence face the problem of
diseconomies of large scale production.
(x) Public ownership leads to emergence of large inefficient monopoly public
enterprises.
(xi) There are no strict financial controls in public enterprises, which create loopholes for
corruption and embezzlements.
(xii) Losses made by the public enterprises are usually shouldered by the public through
raising taxes.
(b) Private Ownership
It is the type of ownership whereby the major means of production are owned by
individuals.
Advantages of Private Ownership
Private ownership has the following advantages.
(i) There is freedom of production and consumption; individuals are free to decide on
what kind of goods to produce and consume.
(ii) It reduces the government’s burden to provide social services to the people
(iii) There is efficiency in production of goods and provision of services due to
competition.
(iv) Fast growth of the national income due to efficient production by the private firms
(v) High private initiatives. Individuals are the immediate owners of the firms and profit;
therefore, they are encouraged to work hard.
(vi) Proper allocation of resources. Producers produce according to the demand of the
consumers. For that case, they do not waste resources on goods which are not
demanded by the consumers.
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Disadvantages of Private Ownership

Private ownership has the following disadvantages:
(i) Emergence of classes of those who own the major means of production and those
who do not own the major means of production.
(ii) The economy may suffer the crises of unplanned economy such as employment and
economic recession
(iii) The private sector cannot efficiently provide public goods such as road, railways,
defence, education and health.
(iv) Due to lack of control, the private sector, for the sake of maximizing profit, may
produce goods which are harmful to the citizens, for example drugs like marijuana
and cocaine.
(v) Exploitation may be dominant; those who own the major means of production tend
to exploit those who do not own the major means of production.
(vi) The needs of the poor are sometimes ignored, since the producers, under the private
ownership, produce luxury expensive goods which are profitable and are needed by
the rich people, but ignore the essential goods or welfare goods because they are less
profitable
The Private Sector in Tanzania
In Tanzania, the private sector is significant because it performs a number of functions
which include:
(i) The private sector employs the majority of the people in Tanzania, thereby raising
income and standards of living.
(ii) The sector contributes to the country's Gross National Product (GNP).
(iii) It promotes the growth of the economy since it stimulates entrepreneurship.
(iv) The private sector contributes to the growth and modernization of industries in the
country through the vigorous mobilization of private savings, stimulating
consumption among individuals and increased investments.
(v) It assists in the exploitation of the available domestic resources; hence reduce excess
capacity and wastage of resource utilization.
(vi) The sector uses local raw materials for the local requirements. This leads to a
substantial reduction in the country's foreign expenditures.
(vii) In Tanzania, several private sectors activities have been and are continuously being
established. This increases the degree of competition and, hence efficiency.
(viii) The government revenue, from taxes, is likely to increase with the expansion of the
private sector that can pay the required taxes to the state.
(ix) The role of the private sector is commended as it tends to supplement the little the
government funds towards development.
(x) The sector often re-invests (ploughs back) profits. This helps to expand its existing
productive capacity.
(xi) Technological development is enhanced as the sector tends to be innovative by
adopting new and efficient techniques of production to suit the ever changing
consumer tastes and requirements.
(xii) The private sector can help to reduce the subsistence sector through the
monetisation of the majority of the economy.
(xiii) The expansion of the private sector is also instrumental in the development of the
country's infrastructure.
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(xiv) Rural to urban migration can be reduced with the development of the private
sectors’ activities. This is possible if such activities are located in the rural areas.
(xv) The private sector in Tanzania is highly flexible; it does not only lead to the
promotion of exports but also lead to the country's import substitution targets.
(xvi) It should further be noted that the sector is often characterised by a considerable
degree of dedication.
Weaknesses/shortcomings/problems of the private sector in Tanzania
The private sector in Tanzania has the following shortcomings:
(i) The country's private sectors have a tendency of fearing the risks involved in
business undertakings.
(ii) The sector leads to under-utilization of the domestic resources. This is because not
all resources in the country are employed.
(iii) The private sectors’ activities that is located in the urban areas often lead to rural to
urban migration.
(iv) The sector is also faced with the problem of inadequate financial resources for
expanding its activities countrywide.
(v) There is the tendency of using capital intensive techniques of production so as to
increase output within the sector. This leads to limited employment prospects for the
available potential labour force, that is, unemployment may result.
(vi) The sector tends to be monopolistic in nature by specialising in one or few
production activities.
(vii) It may not promote the country's interests since individual desires/aspirations tend
to dominate the national interests.
(viii) The private sector, in Tanzania, often concentrates on small scale production
activities. This may not enable it to generate adequate economies of scale.
(ix) The high degree of ignorance among the people also greatly hinders the desired
activities/targets of the private sector in the country.
(x) The sector is further faced with unpredictable political policies by the government,
such that there is the fear of nationalization programmes by the state.
(xi) The prevalent use of rudimentary/outdated technology also limits the scale of
production by the Tanzania's private sector.
(xii) The private sector of Tanzania is usually profit motivated. This may act against the
expectations of the individual consumers.
(xiii) Capital outflow/profit repatriation can occur where and when the private sectors’
activities are under foreign ownership.
(xiv) There is a limited level of diversification due to the production of similar
commodities.
(xv) The sector may be faced with the production of poor quality products.
(xvi) It may lead to income inequalities where few people get engaged in such activities,
whereas the majority are not.
Policies adopted by the government of Tanzania to encourage and promote the

Private Sector
In Tanzania, and indeed in most developing nations, the governments think that private
sectors’ activities may distort the national development targets, and the private sector
views the government as an obstacle to market forces and stimulation of
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entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, to make the private sector more effective in Tanzania,

some policies have been adopted.
(i) The government has endeavoured to provide both economic and social
infrastructure such as power, water, roads, telecommunication networks, etc.
(ii) Trade liberalization has been implemented such that entry into a particular field of
economic activity is not restricted.
(iii) The current privatisation programme, in Tanzania, is also aimed at enhancing the
government policy of encouraging the private sectors; by transferring state-owned
enterprises to the private sector investments.
(iv) The government has maintained security and political stability. This move, too, has
helped promoting the private sector.
(v) Economic incentives, such as subsidization policies, tax holidays, etc. have been
encouraged by the government to stimulate private sector investments.
(vi) Price stabilization. The stabilization of the market prices of the goods and services,
by the government, has cultivated confidence in the private sector investments.
(vii) The private sectors, especially the farmers, have been provided with inputs so as to
encourage their production activities.
(viii) The provision of good administrative and social atmosphere which cannot be
provided by the private sector.
(ix) Poverty alleviation programmes in which the government has devised regulatory
measures and structures to motivate and encourage private investors to channel their
savings and investments to benefit the majority.
(x) The government has enabled the extension of a considerable degree of autonomy of
the private entrepreneurs on their investment and management decisions.
(xi) Respect of contractual obligations and the protection of property rights, including
the intellectual property rights.
(xii) Consistent and uniform application of the government policies aimed at ensuring fair
and equal treatment among the private firms, the foreign and the state-owned
enterprises.
(c) Co-operative Ownership
It is the type of ownership whereby people with common interest join together to achieve
certain economic and social objectives.
In Tanzania, co-operative societies begun during the colonial period with the prime
objective of assisting farmers in the production and marketing of their crops. Co-
operative societies existed after independence, until 1976, when they were abolished due
to their failure to meet their primary objectives.
Advantages of Co-operative Ownership
Co-operative ownership has the following advantages:
(i) Economies of Scale: These are economies of scale that members get by joining a co-
operative society. Such economies are; marketing economies; storage economies;
transportation economies; and accounting economies.
(ii) Increase in the bargaining power: When peasants use a co-operative society, their
bargaining power increases than when they sell crops to individual buyers.
(iii) A Co-operative Society may act as an instrument for mass mobilization: A co-operative society
may act as an instrument for mobilizing members of the society for community works
such as construction of street or village roads, classrooms, dispensaries, etc.
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(iv) Inputs to members: Members of a co-operative society can benefit from services that are
provided by the co-operative society such as fertilizers, insecticides and technical
advice.
(v) Services to members: Some co-operatives provide social services such as education and
health in their areas.
(vi) Easy to obtain the governments’ assistance: A co-operative society can easily get financial
assistance from the government than individual peasants, because the assets that it
owns can act as securities.
Disadvantages of Co-operative Societies
Co-operative societies have the following disadvantages:
(i) Mismanagement of funds: Co-operatives are often faced with problems of corruption,
embezzlement of funds, theft, non performing loans and big debts borrowed from
financial institutions.
(ii) Low prices offered to the farmers: Unlike private crop buyers, co-operatives offer low prices
for the crops due to lack of enough capital.
(iii) Large operating costs: Co-operative societies are faced with the problem of increasing
operating costs, such as wages, rent, and transportation, as they expand in size.
(iv) Lack of democracy: Often, major decisions are made by key leaders while members are
completely ignored.
(v) Large debts: These debts arise due to buying of crops on credit and excessive
borrowing from financial institutions.
(vi) Political intervention: Sometimes, co-operatives societies are used by politicians as organs
for mobilizing people to achieve political interests of politicians such as winning
elections.
(vii) Bureaucratic nature: The co-operatives are bureaucratic in its operations and in making
business decisions on what to purchase, when to purchase and where to sale. Several
meetings, which often lead to delay in decision making, are carried to decide on the
above questions, contrary to private crop buyers who are fast in making decisions,
depending on the existing demand conditions.
The dual economies and the informal sector
Dual Economy
A dual economy is the one in which there is a traditional and or pre-capitalistic sector, on
one hand, and a capitalistic sector or modern sector on the other hand. The former
consists of peasant farmers who use simple methods of cultivation, while the latter
consists of miners, large scale manufacturing companies, plantations and large export-
import trading companies, as well as all the public services which are operated or
controlled by the central the government.
The gap between the traditional and the modern sector exists on sociological and
economical levels as follows:
On the social side; it has been argued that the two sectors have quite separate social
systems. In the rural, the traditional sector with indigenous culture, beliefs and
religions will dominate, while in the urban, the modern sector and western values will
dominate.
On the economic side; the traditional sector applies small scale and labour intensive
technique with little capital, while the modern sector uses capital intensive technique
and operates on large scale.
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The modern sector is involved in commercial production, while the traditional sector
is primarily involved in subsistence production.
The traditional sector is dominated by the indigenous people, while the modern sector
is often dominated by foreigners, through the multinational companies.
The modern sector is export oriented, while the traditional sector is for domestic
consumption.
The economic links between the two sectors are often minimal. Modern sector does
not buy things from the traditional sector, or sell things to the traditional sector.
Hence, it can expand without affecting the traditional sector.
Effects of Economic Dualism
Economic dualism has the following effects:
It causes social stratification.
It widens the income gap.
It can cause rural to urban migration.
It worsens the living conditions in the rural areas.
It attracts economic domination by foreigners.
It retards technological developments in the rural areas.
Informal Sector
This is the sector which comprises unofficial or unregistered activities; it is an
intermediate sector existing between the traditional sector and the modern sector. It
mainly comprises people who are self employed. Examples of activities in this sector
include-hawkers, carpenters, shoe shiners, taxi drivers, photographing and newspaper
vendors.
Main features of informal sector
Informal sector has the following features:
(i) The informal sectors’ activities are often dominated by low income groups.
(ii) Entry and exit into and from such business operations is free.
(iii) Business in the informal sector is often operated in the open and semi-permanent
structures.
(iv) Apart from their limited capital resource base, labour is employed extensively.
(v) The informal sectors’ activities are, mostly, located in urban areas and in sub-urban.
(vi) Techniques of production are often poor
(vii) Its activities are usually organised on family basis.
(viii) The government has little control over the sector.
The Roles of the Informal Sector in Tanzania
The informal sector in Tanzania plays the following roles:
(i) The informal sector, being labour intensive, creates employment opportunities,
thereby reducing poverty among individual Tanzanian’s.
(ii) The sector tends to engage in the production of essential goods and services. This
benefits the consumers, especially the low income groups.
(iii) Tanzania can conserve some of her foreign exchange, because the informal sector
requires little of it, if any.
(iv) The informal sector in Tanzania, quite often, provides its own training without any
cost to the state. This training promotes prospects for entrepreneurship.
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(v) Local production activities, such as repair works, marketing, provision of tools and
implements, are encouraged and also the provision of cheap and affordable
consumer goods that are required for the local communities' daily needs.
(vi) Training cost is low, since the informal sector often produces mainly intermediate
goods, such as building materials bricks, tiles, ventilators, furniture, doors, windows,
etc.
(vii) The informal sector engages in projects that require small capital, usually raised
through family savings. This enables the low income earners and even the unskilled
to participate in the production activities.
(viii) The government revenue, through taxation, is likely to increase, since it can be
collected from the informal sectors’ activities.
(ix) It is a vital source of income for the unemployed such as hawkers, shoe shiners,
repairers, etc.
(x) The growth of the informal sector can, consequently, lead to its transformation into
a modern and dynamic sector.
(xi) The informal sector promotes the use appropriate technology, given the prevailing
suitable conditions in Tanzania.
(xii) The sector has linkages in production, i.e. forward and backward linkages, with other
sectors of the national economy. Such linkages tend to lead to the achievement of an
integrated economy.
(xiii) The poor of Tanzania need to be supported. Since the informal sector in the
country is dominated by the poor, its promotion can go a long with supporting
them.
(xiv) The informal sector promotes the spirit of self-sufficiency, thereby reducing the
prevailing dependence on simple consumable products and intermediate goods.
(xv) Managerial difficulties are often minimized by the informal sector, since it is locally
owned and controlled, in most cases, on family lines.
Tanzania’s major economic problems
Tanzania is rated as one of the poor countries in the world. Since independence, it has
been facing a number of problems, such as;
- Declining output in all the sectors of the economy.
- Persistent budget deficit.
- Deficit in the balance of payments.
- Increase in the rate of inflation.
- Increase of the national debts.
- Lack of proper in infrastructure.
- Increase in unemployment.
- Misallocation of resources.
- Depreciation of the currency.
Causes of the Problems
- Increase in the price of imports, such as oil.
- The war against Uganda in 1978/1979.
- Collapse of the East African Community, in 1977.
- Bad weather conditions.
- Declining prices of her exports.
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- Lack of capital to support her economic sectors such as the agricultural and the
industrial sector.
- Corruption and misuse of funds.
- Technological backwardness.
- Lack of entrepreneurial abilities among the Tanzanians.
Solutions to the Problems
In order to solve these problems, Tanzania has been implementing various economic
programmes to create economic recovery. These programmes have been influenced by
the IMF and the World Bank. Examples of these programmes are as follows:
1. National Economic Survival Programme (1980/1981)
This programme had the following aims:
(i) To correct the deficit in the balance of payments.
(ii) To eliminate food shortage.
(iii)To save the foreign currency earned.
Measures taken
(i) Trade liberalization: in which by all the trade restrictions were supposed to be removed.
(ii) Promotion of export: In order to promote exportation, the exporters were allowed to
retain 50% of the foreign exchange earnings.
(iii)Removal of bans on trade concerning food items: Traders were allowed to buy and sell food
within and outside the country and the all restrictions concerning inland movement of
food were removed.
Effects of trade liberalization
- Trade liberalization increased the supply of goods in the country
- Food supply was improved; areas with surplus food were able to easily supply food to
areas with acute shortage of food.
2. Structural Adjustment Programme (1982-1984/1985) - SAP
This programme was intended to bring about the necessary and desirable changes on the
structure of:
- Investments
- Consumption
- Exports and imports
Measures taken
- Currency devaluation
- Trade liberalization
- Reduction of expenditures
- Price decontrol
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been financing these
programmes and other programmes on the following conditions:
(i) Domestic currency devaluation: Tanzania has been advised to reduce the value of her
domestic currency, in relation to the foreign currencies, in order to stimulate exports,
in anticipation that exports will increase. Devaluation makes exports to be cheap and
imports to be expensive hence; it enables the country to earn more foreign income.
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(ii) Reduction of the government’s expenditures: In order to reduce the national debts, Tanzania
has been instructed, by IMF and the donor countries, to reduce her expenditures in
various areas such as education, health, etc. by introducing the cost-sharing system in
the consumption of the social services.
(iii) Privatisation of the economy: The government has been ordered to privatise the public
enterprises as a pre-condition for getting loans. Privatisation also aimed at increasing
efficiency in production.
(iv) Trade liberalization: It is the policy of removing trade restrictions, such as tariffs, to
facilitate trade and reduce the scarcity of the essential goods.
(v) Price decontrol: This is the policy whereby the government does not fix the prices of
goods and services, but leaves the market forces to determine the prices of goods and
services.
(vi) Political changes: In this condition, the government is required to improve democracy
and human rights status of the country.
Privatisation
Privatisation is the transfer of ownership from state owned enterprises to private
ownership.
Forms of Ownership
(i) Liberalization or deregulation: This refers to a complete removal of barriers of entry of
private individuals to certain investment undertakings, so as to increase competition.
This is often done in the export sector, foreign exchange markets, etc.
(ii) Divestiture: This involves the complete sale of all shares of the government to the
private sector.
(iii) Partial privatisation: Also known as joint venture ownership. It occurs when both the
government and the private sector own shares in any given undertaking, though the
private sector may dominate in the ownership of shares.
(iv) Repossession: It is the returning of property or enterprises to their former rightful
owners, e.g. the NRM government returned to their rightful owners all properties
under the departed Asian Custodian Board.
(v) Cost sharing: This is where the government removes or withdraws its financial support
from an enterprise and leaves it to the direct beneficiaries; e.g. hospitals, schools, etc.
(vi) Contracting-out: This occurs when the provision of goods or services is transferred
from the government to the private sector, but the state still retains the sole authority
over the ownership. Therefore, it may, for example, privatise only management, but
not ownership; hence, management contracts, leases, concessions, etc, have to be
signed by the government.
(vii) Leasing: It involves leasing out of a state owned enterprise to private individuals. In
Tanzania, for example, this has been done in toilets, markets, parks, taxi and bus
parks, etc.
Arguments in Favour of Privatisation

There is a popular view, by some economists that market forces tend to allocate resources
optimally and more efficiently. The privatisation exercise is deep rooted in a number of
arguments, which are advanced in its favour.
(i) The government is often faced with the problem of inadequate capital to finance and
maintain the state owned enterprises.
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(ii) Corruption and embezzlement by the government officials, consequently results in

mismanagement. This, therefore, calls for the privatisation drive.
(iii) There is the argument that the state enterprises require a lot of protection, which is
not often common with the private sector undertakings.
(iv) The privatisation programme is vital since it increases the contribution of the private
sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
(v) State firms require a lot of subsidies from the government, which is not always the
case with the private sector.
(vi) There is an urgent need to reduce the monopolistic tendency, which often creates
inefficiencies. Privatisation can help to avoid this.
(vii) Capital inflow: Privatisation of the state owned enterprises can encourage foreign
investment. This will in turn lead to foreign capital inflow.
(viii) Privatisation leads to an optimum utilization of the domestic resources, because the
government’s control is often characterized by excess resource utilization.
(ix) Reduction of the bureaucratic tendencies of the state sector: With privatisation, quick
decision making is possible.
(x) Accountability: The management of firms under private ownership are profit
motived; hence it promotes efficiency and accountability.
(xi) To raise revenues: The government can raise enough revenues by transferring its
enterprises or assets to the hands of the private sector.
(xii) Employment: Privatisation tends to create employment opportunities in the private
sector.
(xiii) A wide tax base: the public sector enterprises, being transferred to the hands of
private owners may help widening the tax base.
(xiv) Reduction of a public debt: Privatisation helps reducing the country's debts,
especially if the government has a reproductive (self-liquidating) debt.
Arguments against Privatisation
Privatisation has the following disadvantages:
(i) Capital and profit outflow: When the state enterprises are sold to foreign investors,
excessive capital flight (outflow) is possible. Also, most of the profits may be
repatriated outside the country.
(ii) Social costs: The society is likely to suffer from negative externalities such as pollution,
noise, and poor quality of products.
(iii) Difficulty in planning: Privatisation may cause difficulties in planning, since the private
sector tends to make its own plans and decisions, some of which may contradict the
government’s plans.
(iv) Widening of income inequalities: Privatisation shifts the wealth of the society from the
public/ the government management to few individual’s hands, who, as a result,
become richer than other individuals in the society hence income inequalities.
(v) Production of essential goods may be ignored: Private sector prefers producing luxury
expensive and profitable goods to producing essentials with low profit goods. For
example, social services and, therefore, lead to fall in the living conditions of the poor
majority.
(vi) Unemployment problem may increase: The private sectors prefer applying the capital
intensive technique of production to applying the labour intensive technique, because
of its efficiency.
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(vii) Inefficient supply of public services: The private sector may fail to provide sufficient public
services due to reasons such as the heavy investment required like the construction of
railways and ports.
(viii)Emergence of private monopolies: Privatisation may transfer state monopolies, which are
more accountable to the public and the government, to private monopolies, which are
less considerate to the public’s interests.
Review Questions
1. Describe and discuss the main sectors of the economy.

2. What are the main features of the agricultural sector in Tanzania?
3. Discuss the role of the agricultural sector in the economy of Tanzania.
4. Discuss the role of the industrial sector in the economy of Tanzania.
5. Explain the linkages between the agricultural sector and the industrial sector.
6. What are the advantages of private and public ownership?
7. Discuss the limitation of co-operative ownership.
8. What are the roles of the small industries in the economic development of Tanzania?
9. Explain why the prices of agricultural products tend to fluctuate.
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CHAPTER NINE
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Economic Development
Economic development is the quantitative and qualitative improvement in the economy.
Economic development, therefore, involves increase in the Gross National product
(economic growth) and improvement of the welfare of the people.
Indicators of economic development
Economic development has the following indicators:
Increase in income per capita.
High standards of living and low cost of living.
Decline in illiteracy levels.
Improvements in technology.
Fair income distribution.
Low death rate.
Advanced infrastructure.
Large percentage of GNP from the manufacturing sector.
Social and political stability.
Low or absence of social cost, such as environment pollution.
Democratic and human rights such as freedom of expression, free and fair election,
freedom of association, freedom of worship etc.
Efficiency of labour.
Urbanisation.
High life expectancy.
High consumption and investment.
Low or absence of economic instabilities such as inflation, deflation, budget deficit and
deficit in the balance of payments.
Therefore, economic development is a multi-dimensional concept; its indicators are
economic, social and political in nature
Economic growth
Economic growth is the quantitative increase in the national output, that is, it is the increase
in the volume of goods and services produced in an economy.
Economic growth differs from economic development in the sense that it covers only
the physical aspect of the economy, without considering the socio and political aspects of
the economy, therefore, its indicators are only economic in nature. Examples of such
indicators are: -
High growth rate of the Gross National Product
Improvement of the physical infrastructure
High income per capita
Increase in the manufacturing sectors (industrial) development
Expanding investments and consumption
Urbanization
Fall in unemployment
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Economic stability
Increase in the size of markets
Efficiency of labour.
Technological growth.
Favourable terms of trade and balance of payments
Large tax revenues
Increasing social costs, such as environment pollution
In some situation, growth may be seen by the growing income inequalities among the
people and regions.
Determinants of Economic Growth
Economic growth is determined by the following factors:
(i) Availability of natural resources: If a country is gifted in natural resources, such as
minerals and favourable climate, and they are well utilized, it can easily attain a high
economic level, but if a country has less natural resources it will be difficult for the
country to realize economic growth.
(ii) Size of the labour force: A country with enough and efficient labour force is able to
increase its national output than a country with shortage of labour force.
(iii) Stock of capital: If a country has a large stock of capital goods, such as machinery,
factories, buildings, infrastructures etc, it can easily achieve economic growth, unlike a
country with limited capital goods.
(iv) Entrepreneur capacity: Entrepreneurs are the owners and investors of various economic
enterprises. The growth of investment and the ultimate growth of the economy
depend much on the number and efficiency of entrepreneurs. A country with a large
number of efficient entrepreneurs may realize a rapid economic growth.
(v) Political and social stability: The growth of investments and the resulting economic
growth depend much on the social and economic stability of the country. A country
with political instability and social unrest hardly achieve any meaningful economic
growth.
(vi) Internal and External Market Size: A large growth of the economy depends much on the
market for the goods produced. Producers are encouraged to increase production if
there is a readily available market for the goods and services. In a situation when the
market size is so small, producers are discouraged from increasing production; as a
result, the country cannot achieve high economic growth.
(vii) Conducive Environment for Growth of Investments: Adequate and reliable infrastructure with
good the government economic policies on issues, such as tax, stabilization and
employment, attract both local and foreign investors in the country and, thus provide
the necessary condition for economic growth.
Positive impact of economic growth
Economic growth has the following impact:
(i) Raises the living standards: Economic growth leads to an increase in income per capita,
which increases the ability of the people to purchase goods and services and, thus
improve their living standards.
(ii) Creation of employment opportunities: Economic growth leads to more employment
opportunities to the people.
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(iii) Development of infrastructure: Economic growth enables a country to promote the

development of her social and economic infrastructure such as transport and
communication, energy, health, education etc.
(iv) Industrial development: Economic growth provides the necessary conditions for the
growth of the industrial sector such as market for industrial products. As a result, it
increases the purchasing power of the people, establishment of infrastructure such as
electrical power, transport and communication.
(v) Economic stability: A country that is experiencing a high economic growth has a stable
economy with low inflation rate, low unemployment and a high growth rate of the
national income.
(vi) High Income per capita: Economic growth leads to the growth of the national income
and, thus to an increase in the income per capita.
(vii) Increase in resource utilization: Economic growth precipitates an increase in the
utilization of the available resources such as capital and land.
(viii) Growth of towns: Economic growth leads to an increase in the economic activities in
certain areas, such as industrial production, which attracts immigrants of people to
the areas, hence construction of more residential buildings and infrastructure such as
roads, electricity, tap water system, recreation centres etc, which are the pre-
requisites for the growth of towns.
Negative Impacts of Economic Growth

Economic growth may sometimes lead to negative effects as follows:
(i) Environment Degradation: Economic growth stimulates the levels of industrialisation,
which often result to environment pollution, such as air pollution and water
pollution, by emitting poisonous gases to the atmosphere. Also, economic growth
may result into an increase in the demand for agricultural raw materials. This gives
pressure to the farmers to cultivate more land areas and clear more natural forests,
hence cause land degradation.
(ii) Over-exploitation of Resources: Economic growth results to excessive demand for a lot of
resources, such as minerals, soil, water, therefore, leads to the exhaustion of these
natural resources.
(iii) Rural to Urban Migration: Economic growth may lead to economic imbalances
between the rural areas and the urban areas. These imbalances between the rural
areas and the urban areas may be in the form of unequal employment opportunities
and unequal across to the social and economic services such as health, electricity and
education. As a result, people may be attracted to migrate to the urban areas.
(iv) Income inequalities: If the income is not fairly distributed and economic resources are
owned by few individuals. Economic growth may result to income inequalities.
Underdevelopment
This is a comparative term. It applies to countries which are developing but are lagging
behind in their process of development. Underdevelopment does not mean absence of
development. It applies to countries which are industrially, technologically, and scientifically
and economically less developed. Examples of countries with underdevelopment are
Tanzania, Kenya, Albania, Brazil and Bangladesh.
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Indicators of Underdevelopment
Some of the indicators of underdevelopment are;
(i) Low Income per Capita: In the underdeveloped countries, the income per capita is low
due to the low volume of production.
(ii) Low contribution of the manufacturing sector to the Gross National Product: In the less
developed countries, the contribution of the manufacturing sector is too low. The
economy is more dominated by the subsistence agricultural sector.
(iii) Low technological development: In the underdeveloped countries, the level of technology
is very low; most of the production activities are done by using backward
technology.
(iv) Underutilization of resources: There is underutilization of resources in the less developed
countries due to the poor technology and lack of capital to fully utilize the available
resources.
(v) Economic dualism: In the underdeveloped countries, there is existence of two sectors at
the same time; one is the modern sector and the other one is the traditional sector.
This causes lack of an integrated sector, thereby minimising the level of
development.
(vi) High death rates and short life expectancy: In the less developed countries, the rate of
deaths, especially infant mortality rate, is so high and the life expectancy is short due
to the poor health services and poor nutrition.
(vii) High illiteracy rate: Due to lack of adequate education facilities, many people in the less
developed countries are illiterate.
(viii) Poor housing: Most of the people in underdeveloped countries live in poor houses
(slums) due to their inability to buy the essential building materials such as iron
sheets and cement.
(ix) Economic instabilities: The underdeveloped countries are, frequently, faced with various
economic instabilities such as inflation, balance of payments problems,
unemployment and very slow economic growth.
(x) Political instabilities: Since political power is an alternative for making a living in these
countries, people often struggle to take political power, even by use of force, so that
they can control the resources of the country. This leads to endless conflicts in the
underdeveloped countries.
(xi) Lack of capital, skilled labour and entrepreneurs: The Less developed countries are
characterized by limited supply of efficient factors of production, such as modern
machinery, skilled labour and efficient entrepreneurs.
(xii) Economic dependence: Most of the less developed countries are not economically
independent. They depend on the developed countries for economic assistance.
Therefore, a large part of their budget depends on foreign aid.
(xiii) Large rural population: In the underdeveloped countries, the urban areas are very few
in number, and provide little opportunities for employment. Therefore, many people
live in the rural areas.
Causes of underdevelopment
Underdevelopment is caused by the following factors:
(i) Limited stock of factors of production: Underdevelopment is mainly a result of low
production in the country. Low production is often the consequence of a country’s
lack of the factors of production, such as labour, capital, land and entrepreneurs, and
poor organisation of these factors in the process of production.
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(ii) Poor technological development: If a country lacks the necessary technology to utilize the
available resources, such as minerals, soils, forests and water, its level of
development will be low.
(iii) Political instabilities: If a country is faced with political instabilities, due to wars and
civil conflicts, investors will be discouraged from investing in such a country. Also,
many of the country's resources will be used for non-productive expenditures, such
as buying weapons, instead of investing in the productive sectors such as the
industries and the economic services.
(iv) Poor infrastructures: Underdevelopment is caused by lack of well developed
infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, transport and communication, which are
very important for attracting of investments.
(v) Wastage of resources: Underdevelopment may also be caused by rampant corruption of
the government officials, and poor economic planning, in which the government
may allocate resources in non-profitable public enterprises.
(vi) Unfavourable terms of trade: Underdevelopment in the less developed countries is, to
some extent, caused by unfavourable terms of trade such that the goods which are
produced by these countries fetch lower prices in comparison to goods which are
produced by the developed countries. This results to a fall in the national income of
those less developed countries.
(vii) Population Pressure: In the less developed countries, the rate of population growth is
very high compared to the rate of economic growth. This leads to poor living
conditions given the low capacity of the economy and the government to provide
enough goods and services to the people.
(viii) Debts burden: Most of the less developed countries, due to low income, are forced to
borrow money from internal and external creditors. However, most of the money
borrowed is not used in productive projects, as a result, the governments of these
countries fail to get enough funds to pay back the debts, and therefore the debt
burden increases. This leads to underdevelopment.
Economic Dependency
This is a situation in which a country depends on other nations or donor institutions to
achieve its economic goals.
Types of Economic Dependencies
Economic development is divided into the following types:
(i) Trade dependence: This is a kind of dependency in which a country depend on
international trade to obtain goods and services
(ii) Capital dependence: A country depends on foreign capital to enable her run her
economic activities.
(iii) Technological dependence: A country depends on foreign experts to provide technical
know-how in the productive sectors of her economy.
(iv) Financial dependence: Financial institutions of foreign countries handle financial affairs
of a country, such as banking, insurance, etc.
(v) Direct dependence: Foreigners directly engage in the production activities of in the
dependent country. This takes the form of multinational investments in the major
sectors of the economy, such as mining, tourism, agriculture, transport etc.
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Effects of Economic Dependency

Economic dependency has the following effects:
Dependency may increase the debt burden of a country.
Dependency, on foreign aid may harm the economic, political and social interest of a
country.
Due to the dependency on assistance from other countries, a country may be given
goods of poor quality or which have side effects.
Dependency on foreign technology and capital may discourage local initiatives from
inventing and discovering new local technology.
It leads to a good political and social relations between the donor country and the
dependent country
Theories of Economic Development
An Overview
Development theories have to deal with two challenges. On one hand, development
theories analyze the social economic phenomena of Underdevelopment and development.
On the other hand, they should be based on problem analysis, and offer strategies for
development opportunities. The focus of these different approaches is on economic,
social, political or cultural factors. In some measures, these approaches overlap. These
theories are divided into classical and modernization theories.
1. Classical Theories
Classical theories include;
(a) Harrod-Domar model
(b) Dual sector model
(c) Marxist theory
(d) Dependency theory
(a) Harrod – Domar Model
This model is used in development economics to explain an economy’s growth rate in
terms of the level of savings and productivity of capital. It suggests that there is no natural
reason for an economy to have balanced growth. The model was developed independently
by sir Harrod in 1939 and Eusen Domar in 1946. It was the precursor to the exogenous
growth model. According to the model, there are the following three concepts of growth:
- Warranted growth
- Natural growth
- Actual growth
Assumptions of the Model
Harrod-Domar model makes the following priori assumptions:
(i) Economic growth depends on the amount of labour and capital, expressed as:
Y = F(L, K), output is a function of capital stock
(ii) The marginal product of capital is constant, and the production function exhibits
constant returns to scale. This that implies the marginal and average products are
equal.
(iii) Capital is a very necessary input in the process of production
(iv) The product of the savings rate and output is equal to savings which is equal
investment, S=I
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(iv) The change in capital stock equals investment, less the depreciation of capital stock.
In summary, the saving rate times the marginal product of capital, minus the depreciation
rate, equals the output growth rate. Increasing the saving rate, increasing the marginal
product of capital or decreasing the depreciation rate, increases the growth rate of output.
These are the means of achieving growth on Harrod-Domar model.
Conclusion
Although the model was initially created to help analysing the business cycle, it was later
adapted to explain economic growth. Its implication was that growth depends on the
quantity of labour and capital. More investment leads to capital accumulation which
generates economic growth. The model also had implications for the less economically
developed countries, where labour is in plentiful supply but physical capital is not, thus
slowing the economic growth.
The less developed countries do not have sufficient average income to enable high
rate of savings and, therefore a slow accumulation of capital stock for making
investments.
The model implies that economic growth depends on policies for increasing
investments, by increasing saving and using that investment more efficiently through
technological advancements. The model concludes that an economy cannot find full
employment and stable growth rates naturally, similar to Keynesian beliefs.
Criticisms against Theory
(i) The main criticisms of the model are the level of assumptions. For example, that
there is no reason for growth to be sufficient to maintain full employment. This is
based on the belief that the relative price of labour and capital is fixed, and that they
are used in equal proportions. The model explains economic boom and bust by the
assumption that investors are only influenced by output (known as accelerator
Principle), which is widely believed to be false.
(ii) In terms of development, critics claim that the model considers economic growth
and development as the same, whereas in reality, growth is only a subset of
development.
(iii) The model implies that poor countries should borrow order to finance investment in
to trigger economic growth. However, history has shown that this often causes
repayment problems later.
(iv) According to the model, saving is the most important endogenous parameter. But
the challenge is; can the parameter be easily manipulated by policy makers? It
depends on the much control that the policy maker has over the economy. In fact,
there are several reasons to believe that the rate of savings may itself be influenced
by the overall level of per capita income in the society, not to mention the
distribution of that income within the population.
(b) Dual Sector Model
The dual sector model, in development economics, explains the growth of a developing
economy in terms of labour transition between two sectors; the traditional agricultural
sector and the modern industrial sector.
Surplus labour, from the traditional agricultural sector, is transferred to the modern
industrial sector whose growth, with time, absorbs the surplus labour, promotes
industrialization and stimulates a sustainable development.
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In the model, the traditional agricultural sector is typically characterized by low wages,
abundance of labour and low productivity, through labour intensive production process.
In contrast, the modern manufacturing sector has higher wage rates than the agricultural
sector, higher marginal productivity and demand for more workers, initially. Also, the
manufacturing sector is assumed to use the production process that is capital intensive. So
investment and capital formation in the manufacturing sector is possible, overtime, since
the capitalists profits are reinvested in the capital stock.
Improvement in the marginal productivity of labour in the agricultural sector is
assumed to be a low priority, as the hypothetical developing nation’s investment goes
towards the physical capital stock in the manufacturing sector. Since the agricultural sector
has a limited amount of land to cultivate, the marginal product of an additional farmer is
assumed to be zero since the law of diminishing marginal returns has run its course due to
the fixed input, land. As a result, the agricultural sector has a number of farm workers
who do not contribute to the agricultural output, since their marginal productivity is zero.
The group of farmers, that are not producing any output, is termed surplus labour.
Since this cohort could be moved to other sectors without any effect on agricultural
output, therefore, due to wage differential between the agricultural sector and the
manufacturing, workers will tend to move from the agricultural sector to the
manufacturing sector, overtime, to reap the reward of higher wages. If a number of
workers move from the agricultural sector, equal to the quantity of surplus labour in the
agricultural sector regardless of who actually transfers, general welfare and productivity
will improve. Total agricultural product will remain unchanged while total industrial
product increases, due to the additional labour, but the additional labour may also drive
down marginal productivity and wages in the manufacturing sector. Overtime, as this
transition continues to take place and investment results in increase in capital stock, the
marginal productivity of workers in the manufacturing will be driven up by capital
formation and driven down by additional workers entering the manufacturing sector will
by equal to workers leaving the agriculture whilst driving productivity and wages in
manufacturing. The end result of this transition process is that the agricultural wage equals
the manufacturing wage, the agricultural marginal product of labour equals the
manufacturing marginal productivity of labour and no further manufacturing sector
enlargement takes place as workers no longer have a monetary incentive to move.
Criticism against the Dual Sector Model
This theory is complicated in reality by the fact that surplus labour is both generated by
the introduction of new productivity, enhancing technology in the agricultural sector and
the intensification of work. Also, the migration of workers from the countryside to the
cities is an incentive towards those two phenomena as the relative bargaining power of
workers and employers varies and thus raises the cost labour.
The wage differential between industry and agriculture needs to be a sufficient
incentive for the movement between the sectors and, whereas the model assumes any
differential will result in a transfer of workers from rural agricultural sector to
manufacturing sector.
The model assumes rationality, perfect information and unlimited capital formation in
industry. These do not exist in practical situations, and so the full extent of the model is
rarely realised. However, the model does provide a good general theory on labour
transitioning in developing economies.
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Practical Application
The model has been applied quite successfully in Singapore
(c) Marxist Theory by Ernest Mandel
According to the Marxist school of thought, human societies have passed through five
stages of development, namely, primitive communalism, slavery, feudal, capitalism and
socialism. Theory is analysed by Ernest Mandel as follows:
(i) Primitive Society and the Origins of the State

In this stage, the state did not always exist. Certain sociologists and other representatives
of academic political science err when they speak of the state in primitive societies. They
are actually confusing the state with the community. In so doing, they strip the state of its
special characteristic, that is, the exercise of certain functions is removed from the
community as a whole to become the exclusive prerogative of a tiny fraction of the
members of this community. In other words, the emergence of the state is a product of
the social division of labour.
As long as this social division of labour is only rudimentary, all members of the
society, in turn, exercise practically all its functions. There is no state and any special state
functions. In connection to the Bushmen, Father Victor Ellenberger writes that this tribe
knew neither private property nor courts, neither central authority nor special bodies of
any kind. Another author writes about this same tribe: “The band, and not the tribe, is the
real political body among the Bushmen. Each band is autonomous, leading its own life
independently of the others. Its affairs are as a rule regulated by the skilled hunters and
the older, more experienced men in general.”
The same holds true for the people of Egypt and Mesopotamia in remote antiquity:
“The time is no riper for the patriarchal family with paternal authority than it is for a really
centralized political grouping. Active and passive obligations are collective in the regime
of the totemic clan. Power and responsibility in this society still have an indivisible
character. We are here in the presence of a communal and egalitarian society, within
which participation in the same totem, the very essence of each individual and the basis
for the cohesion of all, places all members of the clan on an equal footing.”
But to the extent that social division of labour develops and society is divided into
classes, the state appears, and its nature is defined: the members of the collectivity as a
whole are denied the exercise of a certain number of functions; a small minority, alone,
takes over the exercise of these functions. In general, writing is unknown to primitive
society. Thus, there are no written codes of law. Moreover, the exercise of justice is not
the prerogative of particular individuals; this right belongs to the collectivity. Apart from
the quarrels that are resolved by the families or the individuals themselves, only collective
assemblies are empowered to render judgments. In primitive Germanic society, the
president of the people’s tribunal did not pass judgment: his function based in seeing that
certain rules and certain forms were observed. The idea that there could be certain men
detached from the collectivity to whom would be reserved the right of dispensing justice,
would seem to citizens of the society based on the collectivism of the clan or the tribe,
just as nonsensical as the reverse appears to most of our contemporaries.
To sum up at a certain point in the development of the society, before it is divided
into social classes, certain functions such as the right to bear arms or to administer justice
are exercised collectively - by all adult members of the community. It is only as this society
develops further, to the point where social classes appear, that these functions are taken
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away from the collectivity to be reserved to a minority who exercise these functions in a
special way.
What are the Characteristics of This “Special Way”?
Let us examine the Western society, at the period when the feudal system begun to
dominate. The independence (not formal, not juridical, but very real and almost total) of
the great feudal estates can be shown by the fact that the feudal lord, and only he,
exercises throughout his domain all the functions enumerated above, functions that had
devolved on the adult collectivity in primitive societies.
This feudal lord is the absolute master of his realm. He is the only one who has the
right to bear arms at all times; he is the only policeman, the only constable; he is the sole
judge; he is the only one who has the right to coin money; he is the sole minister for
finance. He exercises, throughout his domain, all the classic functions performed by a
state, as we know it today.
Later, an evolution takes place. As long as the estate remains fairly small, its
population is limited, the “state” functions of the lord are rudimentary and not very
complicated, and as long as exercising these functions takes only a little of the lord’s time,
he handles the situation and exercises all these functions in person. But when the domain
grows and the population increases, the functions for which the feudal lord is responsible
become more and more complex, more and more detailed and burdensome. It, therefore,
becomes impossible for one man to exercise all these functions.
What Does the Feudal Lord Then Do?
He partially delegates his powers to others, but not to free men, since the latter belong to
a social class in opposition to the seigniorial class. The feudal lord delegates part of his
power to people who are completely under his control: serfs who are part of his domestic
staff. Their servile origin is reflected in many present-day titles: “constable” comes from
comes stabuli, head serf of the stables; “minister” is the serf ministrable, i.e., the serf
assigned by the lord to minister to his needs - to act as his attendant, servant, assistant,
agent, etc.; “marshal” is the serf who takes care of the carriages, the horses, etc. (from
marah scalc, Old High German for keeper of the horses).
The more the extent that these people, these non-free men, these domestics, are
completely under his control, does the seigneur partially delegate his powers to them.
This example leads us to the following conclusion - which is the foundation of the
Marxist theory of the state:
The state is a special organ that appears at a certain moment in the historical
evolution of mankind, and that is condemned to disappear in the course of this same
evolution. It is born from the division of the society into classes and will disappear
at the same time that this division disappears. It is born as an instrument in the
hands of the possessing class for the purpose of maintaining the domination of this
class over the society, and it will disappear along with this class domination.
Coming back to feudal society, it should be noted that state functions exercised by the
ruling class do not only concern the most immediate areas of power, such as the army,
justice, finances, but also under the seigneur’s thumb are ideology, law, philosophy,
science and art. Those who exercise these functions are poor people, who in order to
live, have to sell their talents to a feudal lord who can take care of their needs. Heads of
the church have to be included in the class of feudal lords, inasmuch as the church was
175
the proprietor of vast landed estates. Under such conditions, at least as long as
dependence is total, the development of ideology is controlled entirely by the ruling
class: it alone orders “ideological production”; it alone is capable of subsidizing the
“ideologues”.
These are the basic relationships that we have to keep in mind, if we don’t want to
get lost in a tangle of complications and fine distinctions. Needless to say, in the course
of the evolution of the society, the function of the state becomes much more complex,
with many more nuances, than it is in a feudal regime such as the one we have just very
schematically described.
Nevertheless, we must start from this transparently clear and obvious situation in
order to understand the logic of the evolution, the origin of this social division of labour
that is brought about, and the process through which these different functions become
more and more autonomous and begin to seem more and more independent of the
ruling class.
(ii) The Modern Bourgeois State
Bourgeois Origin of the Modern State
Here, too, the situation is fairly clear. Modern parliamentarism finds its origin in the battle
cry that the English bourgeoisie. Hurled at the king, “No taxation without
representation!” In plain words this means: “Not a cent will you get from us as long as we
have no say on how you spend it”.
We can immediately see that this is not much more subtle than the relationship
between the feudal lord and the serf assigned to the stables. And a Stuart king, Charles I,
died on the scaffold for not having respected this principle, which became the golden rule
all representatives, direct or indirect, of the state apparatus have had to obey since the
appearance of modern bourgeois society.
The bourgeois State, a class State
This new society is no longer dominated by feudal lords but by capitalism, by modern
capitalists. As we know, the monetary needs of the modern state, the new central power,
more or less absolute monarchy, become greater and greater, from the fifteenth to the
sixteenth century onwards. It is the money of the capitalists, of the merchant and
commercial bankers, that in large part fills the coffers of the state.
Ever since that time, to the extent that the capitalists pay for the upkeep of the state,
they will demand that the latter place itself completely at their service. They will make
this quite clearly felt and understood by the very nature of the laws they enact and by the
institutions they create.
Several institutions which today appear democratic in nature, for example, the
parliamentary institution, clearly reveal the class nature of the bourgeois state. Thus, in
most of the countries in which parliamentarism was instituted, only the bourgeoisie had
the right to vote. This state of affairs lasted in most Western countries until the end of the
last century or even the beginning of the twentieth century. Universal suffrage is, as we
can see, of relatively recent invention in the history of capitalism.
How is this explained?
In the seventeenth century, when the English capitalists proclaimed, “No taxation without
representation”, it was only representation for the bourgeoisie that they had in mind; for
the idea that people who owned nothing and paid no taxes could vote, seemed absurd and
176
ridiculous to them. Isn’t parliament created for the very purpose of controlling
expenditures made with the taxpayers’ money?
This argument, extremely valid from the point of view of the bourgeoisie, was taken
up and developed by the Doctrinaire bourgeoisie at the time of the demand for universal
suffrage. For this bourgeoisie, the role of parliament consisted of controlling budgets and
expenditures. Therefore, only those who pay taxes may validly exercise this control,
because those who do not pay taxes would constantly have the tendency to increase
expenditures, since they do not foot the bill.
Later on, the bourgeoisie regarded this problem in another way. Along with universal
suffrage, was born universal taxation, which weighs more and more heavily on the
workers. In this way, the bourgeoisie re-established the inherent “justice” of the system.
The parliamentary institution is a typical example of the very direct mechanical bond that
exists, even in the bourgeois state, between the domination of the ruling class and the
exercise of state power.
There are other examples of the jury in the judicial system. The jury appears to be an
institution eminently democratic in character, especially when compared to the
administration of justice by irremovable judges, all members of the ruling class over
whom the people have no control.
But from what social layer were, and still in very large measure today, are the
members of the jury chosen? From the bourgeoisie, there were even special qualifications,
comparable to property-holding requirements for voting, for being able to sit on the jury.
A juror had to be a homeowner, pay a certain amount of tax, etc. To illustrate this very
direct link between the machinery of the state and the ruling class in the bourgeois era, we
can also cite the famous Le Chapelier law, passed during the French Revolution, which,
under pretext of establishing equality among all the citizens, forbids both employers’
organizations and workers’ organisations. Thus, under pretext of banning employers’
corporations, when industrial society has gone beyond the corporation stage, trade unions
are outlawed. In this way, the workers are rendered powerless against the bosses, since
only working-class organization can, to a certain extent (a much too limited extent), serve
as a counterweight to the wealth of the employers.
(d) Dependency Theory
Underdevelopment is seen as the result of unequal relationships between the rich
developed capitalist countries and the poor developing ones. In the past colonialism
embodied the inequality between the colonial powers and their colonies. When the
colonies became independent, the inequalities did not disappear. Powerful developed
countries, such as the US, Europe and Japan, dominate the dependent powerless LDCs
via the capitalist system that continues to perpetuate power and resources inequalities.
Dominant developed countries have technological and industrial advantage that
ensures the global economic system works in their own self-interest. Organisations such
as the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO have agenda that benefits the firms, and
consumers of primarily the developed countries freeing up world trade. One of the main
aims of the WTO is to benefit the wealthy nations that are most involved in world trade.
Creating a level playing field for all countries assumes that all countries have the necessary
equipment to be able to play. For the world's poor countries, this is often not the case.
In this model, the lack of development within the less developed countries rests on
the developed countries. Advocates of the dependency theory argue that only substantial
reform of the world capitalist system and a redistribution of assets will 'free' the less
177
developed countries from poverty cycles and enable development to occur. Measures that
the developed countries could take would include the elimination of world debt and the
introduction of global tax such as the Tobin Tax. This is tax on foreign exchange
transactions, named after its proponent, the American Economist, James Tobin, would
generate large revenues that could be used to pay off debt or fund development projects.
Problems
• Power is not easily redistributed as countries that possess it are unlikely to surrender it
• It may be that it is not the governments of the MDCs that hold the power, but large
multinational enterprises that are reluctant to see the worlds resources being
reallocated in favour of the LDCs
• The redistribution of assets globally will result in slow rates of growth in the
developed countries and this might be politically unpopular.
Theory of uneven and combined development
This is a Marxist concept that describes the overall dynamics of human history. It was
originally used by Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky around the turn of the 20th when he
was analyzing the developmental possibilities that existed for the economy and civilization
of the Russian empire and the likely future of the Tsarist regime in Russia. It was the basis
of his political strategy of permanent revolution which implied a rejection of the idea that
a human society inevitably developed through nonlinear sequence of necessary stages. At
first, Trotsky intended this concept only to describe a characteristic evolutionary problem
in the worldwide expansion of the capitalist mode of production from the 16th century
onwards through the growth of world market which connect more and more people and
territories together through trade, migration and investment. His focus was also, initially,
mainly on the history of the Russian empire where the most advanced technological and
scientific developments co-existed with extremely primitive superstitious cultures.
However, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, he increasingly generated the concept of uneven and
combined development to the whole of human history and even processes of evolutionary
biology, as well as the formation of human personality.
2. Modernization theory
Is the theory of development which states that, development can be achieved through
following the process of development that was used by the currently developed countries.
Modernization theory, in contrast to classical liberalism, viewed the state as a central
actor in modernizing the backward or the underdeveloped societies.
Talcolt Parsons functional sociology defined the qualities that distinguished modern
and traditional societies. Education was key to creating modern individuals. Technology
played key role in this development theory, because it was believed that technology
developed and was introduced to the less developed countries.
One key factor in modernization theory is the belief that development requires the
assistance of developed countries; to aid the developing countries to learn from their
development. In addition, it was believed that the lesser developed countries would
develop and grow faster than developed countries. Thus, this theory is built upon theory
that it is possible for equal development to be reached between the developed and the
lesser developed countries.
178
Review Questions
1. How does economic growth differ from economic development?

2. What are the main features of economic development?
3. Describe at least two theories of development.
179
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Beardshaw, (1992). Economics a Student Guide. London: Pitman

Butt, S.A. (1985). Essentials of Commerce in East Africa, London: Cassell Publisher
Eggart, J. (1998). What is Economics. London: Mayfield Publishing House.
GESA, A. (2001). Success in Economics. Kisubi: Marianum Press.
Hanson, J. (1977). A Textbook of Economics. London: Pitman
Hanson, J. (1977). A Dictionary of Economics. London: Pitman.
Livingstone, I. (1980). Economics for Eastern Africa. London: Heinman
Msabila, D.T. (2002). Human and Economic Geography. Dar es Salaam: Afroplus.
Truett, M. (1987). Microeconomics. Toronto: College Publishing House.
180
INDEX
advantages, 67 goods, 60, 61, 68

balance of payments, 33, 42, 45, 48, 51, 55, increasing population, 49
90, 91, 92, 93, 98, 110, 161, 162, 166 indirect taxes., 45
bank draft, 68 investment, 22, 44, 166
bank., 62 large scale production., 155
business, 62, 64, 68, 70 long period, 51, 137, 140
cheque., 67 means of production., 27, 153, 154, 156
commerce, 62, 69 merchant, 59
commerce, 69, 70 money, 61, 64, 72
common market, 112, 117, 123, 124 money., 59
communication, 63 national income., 2, 8
cost of living., 166 overdraft., 63
credit transfers, 67 payee, 65
current Account, 64 production, 61, 62, 70, 71
debt., 104 rate of Interest, 72
devaluation., 145 reserves., 74
distribution., 37 saving., 11
dumping., 98 tax evasion., 41
economic growth., 167 trade, 59, 62, 89, 90, 94, 101, 107, 110, 111
export, 60, 69 travelers cheque, 68
factors of production., 1, 8, 118 value, 38
fixed deposit, 63
181

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Ambilikile, C.

M Economics paper two

THE NATIONAL INCOME

MEASUREMENT OF THE NATIONAL INCOME (THE NATIONAL INCOME

Sale of goods and services to households

Sale of input, e.g. labour, to firms

Expenditure of firms on inputs = Income of households, by selling inputs

Figure 1.1: Circular flow of the national income

Gross National Product at Factor Cost of country X in 1978.

The national income (1)

This method can be divided into two approaches:

(ii) Income Method:

• Rent and royalties accrued Tshs. 50 million.

Expenditures Aggregate demand

In figure 1.2 above:

Figure 1.3: Relationship between consumption and income

Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC)

(ii) Marginal Propensity to Save

Concept of the Multiplier

consumption is $4 million. Calculate the effect on income due to a planned investment of

How a Multiplier Operates

Table 1.6: Operation of the multiplier

Cumulative increase in income can be calculated by using

• When MPC = 0.5

Spending Aggregate supply

Marginal efficiency of capital

Figure 1.6: Relationships between the Rate of Interest and Investment

In the example above;

• Income inequalities encourage progressive taxation of the rich by the government,

Measures of Reducing Income Inequalities

Table 1.8: Income distribution in 1929 and 1979

Perfect equality line

In figure 1.7 above,

1 (a) What is the National Income?

O 20000 30000 Income

Why is Regressive Tax Justified?

Disadvantage of Indirect Tax

Table 2.1: VAT General Guide

Source: Tanzania Revenue Authority (VAT general guide April 2007)

What are services?

Why should individuals and firms pay tax?

Figure 2.5: Tax on goods with perfectly elastic demand

Figure 2.7: Tax on goods with elastic demand

In figure 2:7 above, an imposition of tax on a commodity resulted into an

B. Positive effects of taxes

THE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES

Objectives of the government expenditures

Effects of a Balanced Budget

(v) The central bank cannot print any more money.

B: Long Term and Short Term Debts

C: Reproductive and Non Reproductive Debts

Causes and Justification of Public Debts

Aggregate demand one=C+11 = Y2

Aggregate demand 2=C+I1

Advantages of Foreign Aid

How the Central Bank Controls Money Supply in the country?

It is involved with controlling of imports and therefore it helps to create a favourable

How to withdraw money from the current account

(i) Open cheques

(ii) Crossed cheques