Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cameroon – Economic development'

The role of foreign aid in promoting economic growth and improving the social welfare of people has been the subject of much debate among development specialists, researchers, aid donors as well as recipients in general and Cameroon in particular. In spite of this, there are only few empirical studies that investigate the contributions of foreign aid to economic growth and development in Cameroon. This study explores the impact of foreign aid to economic growth and development in Cameroon using descriptive statistics for data that spans from 1997 to 2006. The results show that foreign aid significantly contributes to the current level of economic growth but has no significant contribution to economic development. The findings imply that Cameroon could enhance its economic development by effectively managing funds from aid and by strategically strengthening anti-corruption measures.

The rest of the work is organized as follows: Chapter one consist of an introduction, chapter two is the literature review, chapter three constitute the research methodology, chapter four is the data presentation and analyses, chapter five summary of findings and recommendations and lastly chapter six conclusions,

Despite the increased popularity of development aid flows from rich nations to poorer ones in the form of Official Development Assistance (ODA), rampant poverty still prevails in the recipient nations. This perhaps explains the lingering debate on the effectiveness of ODA in curbing poverty. Based on Cameroon, this study aims to ascertain if ODA can be relied upon as a tool to fight poverty. The researcher seeks to determine if ODA disbursed to Cameroon has resulted in poverty alleviation among the impoverished from 1980 to 2014, be it directly or indirectly. To this effect, the first research question looks at what the possible causes of poverty in Cameroon are. The second research question dwells on the pattern of ODA to Cameroon over the study period from 1980 to 2014. The final research question seeks to determine the Cameroonian poverty levels over the same period. The definition of poverty in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI) and its three poverty determinants as utilized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is adopted as a theoretical base for this research. These determinants of poverty are life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. While the literature review is utilised to outline the on-going debate on the effects of ODA on economic growth and poverty alleviation, it equally provides possible causes of poverty in Cameroon. These include the prevalence of factors such as poor governance, the swindling of public funds without fear, the normalisation of bribes in return for public services, the lack of decentralized administrative and civil services, and the disproportionate distribution of state earnings. Meanwhile, secondary published data sourced from reputable multilateral bodies is used to determine the trend of ODA to Cameroon over the period from 1980 to 2014. This is then correlated with poverty figures over the same period as expressed by the three human development factors or poverty determinants. The research adopts a quantitative approach as correlations and regressions of obtained secondary data are made used of. The results of the correlations reveal that ODA may not be relied upon as a tool for alleviating poverty in Cameroon due to the statistically insignificant relationships it seems to display with all three poverty determinants. The regression results show on the one hand that ODA has insignificant relationships with life expectancy at birth and mean years of schooling, while on the other hand, ODA and GNI per capita display an inverse relationship that is judged to be statistically significant. High ODA figures can therefore be associated with lower GNI per capita values in Cameroon, based on this study. This means that ODA can be assumed to negatively affect the real income of Cameroonians. A reduction in real income might equally lead to a reduced potential to afford basic necessities like healthcare, schooling and housing. As these essentials are not provided for free in Cameroon, this reduced real income may further be held responsible for an overall deterioration of the quality of life. Based on the above findings, the researcher recommends that aid recipient governments put in place supportive systems and strong institutions that are void of corruption and unnecessary bureaucracy so as to better benefit from foreign aid inflows. African countries like Cameroon also need to develop their internal resources and use them to finance and promote their own growth instead of rely on donor funding with diminishing returns. Likewise, the government needs to improve its level of human development through diverting more funds towards developing and facilitating the poor’s access to the country’s education, healthcare, road network and basic amenities like water and sanitation. Finally, inflows in the form of loans rather than grants can better be utilized to promote positive economic growth. While loans are mostly diverted to productive activities, grants may promote dependency, rent-seeking behaviour and bureaucracy. This study is one of the few that relies on country-level data. Most existing studies on foreign aid and its related effects on poverty alleviation were conducted using cross-country data.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The motive for this research was to provide clarity on the increasingly divergent opinions on the role and behaviour of South African companies in the rest of the African continent. The key question that can be asked is: “Are South African investments, saviour or villain of African Development” (Thomas, 2007)? Are they “exporting Apartheid” (Mkhabela, 2007) or are the fears raised against South African companies unfounded? The primary research objective of this study is to assess MTN-C’s contribution to the economic development of Cameroon. The specific research questions addressed in this study are: 1. What are the possible areas of economic impact? 2. How can the effects of MTN-C’s presence in Cameroon be measured—both qualitatively and quantitatively? 3. What recommendations can be made to MTN-C? To answer these questions, the researcher takes a multi-dimensional view of the economic impact across eight areas, viz., inflow of foreign direct capital, interaction with government, training and development of local staff, employment creation, local procurement, spread of local shareholding, the local mobile communications sector and corporate social investment initiatives. She assesses each of the above-mentioned eight elements and then draws some conclusions on what is perceived to be the true effect of MTN-C’s investments in Cameroon. After close to three years of in-depth research, which included several trips to Cameroon, in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, direct observation, group discussions and survey research, it can be concluded that MTN-C has indeed had a positive impact in areas like Corporate Social Investment, training and development of local staff, employment creation and the inflow of foreign capital. However, much still needs to be done. The areas that have been identified as weak include the development of local suppliers, the interaction with government and the spread of local shareholding.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is gemotiveer deur die soeke na groter helderheid met betrekking tot uiteenlopende beoordelings van die rol en optrede van Suid-Afrikaanse ondernemings in die res van die Afrika-kontinent. Die kernvraag is: “Are South African investments saviour or villains of African development?” (Thomas, 2007) Is hulle besig om apartheid “uit te voer” (Mkhabela, 2007) of is dié vrese teenoor Suid-Afrikaanse ondernemings ongegrond? Die primêre navorsingsoogmerk is die beoordeling van MTN Cameroon se bydrae tot die ekonomiese ontwikkeling in Kameroen. Spesifiek drie vrae word aangespreek. 1. Watter dimensies word ingesluit in ‘n studie van die “ekonomiese impak”? 2. Hoe kan die invloed van MTN Cameroon se teenwoordigheid in dié land gemeet word – sowel kwalitatief asook kwantitatief? 3. Watter aanbevelings kan op grond van dié beoordelings aan die maatskappy gemaak word? Om hierdie vrae te beantwoord word ‘n multi-dimensionele benadering gevolg, gebaseer op agt verskillende invloed-gebiede. Hulle sluit in die invloei van buitelandse kaptiaal, interaksie met die regering, opleiding en ontwikkeling van plaaslike werknemers, werkskepping, plaaslike aankope, die verspreiding van plaaslike aandeelhouding, die mobiele kommunikasiebedryf en sosiale investerings-inisiatiewe. Elkeen van dié elemente word ontleed op grond van vraelys-reaksies en ander insigte. Dit lei tot gevolgtrekkings op elkeen van die vlakke, wat tesame die volle omvang van die betrokkenheid weerspieël. Na drie jaar se interaksie van die navorser met Kameroen, diepte-onderhoude met vername rolspelers, direkte waarnemings, groepbesprekings en 40 voltooide vraelyste kom sy tot die gevolgtrekking dat MTN Cameroon wel ‘n positiewe rol speel in gebiede soos korporatiewe sosiale investerings, opleiding, werkskepping en die invloei van kapitaal, maar dat daar nog heelwat ruimte vir verbeterings is, veral wat plaaslike aankope, interaksie met die regering en plaaslike aandeelhouding betref.

This study is a discussion of the political economy of development in the Southwest province of Cameroon, West Africa, highlighting the role of the Cameroon state in the agricultural development of this province. It is essentially a case study of farmers in the Southwest province, which examines the role of Ahidjo’s economic strategy of planned liberalism and the national economic development plan in the economic development of the province. Cameroon gained independence in 1960, and shortly after that the country’s president Amadou Ahidjo adopted and implemented a national economic development plan over a twenty- year period whose primary goal was to achieve rapid growth and the sustainable development of the country. At the same time, Cameroon’s development was guided by an economic ideology of planned liberalism that emphasized a strong role for the Cameroon state in economic development. The findings from this analysis suggest that, the planned liberalism strategy under Ahidjo contributed significantly to the economic development of the Southwest province and the state of Cameroon. Ahidjo’s “big government” approach to economic development, through planned liberalism was critical to development especially in the agricultural sector. This study has shown that Ahidjo’s popularity and success during his presidency was determined by his successful economic policies toward the farmers in the Southwest province. Additionally, Ahidjo’s vision of a strong state capable of intervening in development proved crucial in realizing Cameroon’s economic development. In conclusion the study recommends that in order for the Cameroon’s efforts towards economic development to continue, the country needs to increase the resources of the rural poor. Secondly, the government has to provide better infrastructure and to support economic development activities.

Magister Legum - LLM
This research acknowledges that although literature abounds on development assistance in general, not much has been published yet on Cameroon specifically. Therefore, this mini-thesis seeks to contribute to fill this gap. Moreover, it aims to examine both development assistance legislative frameworks in Cameroon and above all to compare them in order to find out which development assistance approach is the most aligned in terms of international obligations relative to human rights and economic development. The IMF-World Bank’s Comprehensive Approach to debt Reduction, (the HIPC Initiative), and China’s White Paper on Foreign Aid have been specifically chosen for this research for two main reasons: first, these two international instruments are significantly impacting upon and reshaping Cameroon’s political, social and economic development architecture since Cameroon economic crisis exists till today; and secondly, to enlighten the public, academicians, policy makers, on development assistance in Cameroon given that legal sources on the topic exist but mostly unpublished and inaccessible Therefore this research will be restricted to the period from Cameroon’s economic crisis in 1980 up to 2014. Given the limited availability of primary legal sources at both the international and domestic levels, this research will primarily look at HIPC Initiative Agreement and the Chinese White Paper on Foreign Aid. Moreover, this study will be conducted in form of the available HIPC documents and reports on Cameroon regularly published by the staff of IMF and the World Bank and specifically the HIPC Decision Point Document and the HIPC Completion Point Document of Cameroon. In addition, this study will rely on primary legal sources relative to states international obligations regarding human rights and economic cooperation such as, the UDHR (10 December 1948), the ICCPR (16 December 1966), the ICESCR (16 December 1966) and the Declaration on the Right to Development (4 December 1986). In the case of China’s development assistance approach, given that neither China nor Cameroon release specific bilateral treaties or agreements related to their development co-operation and the fact that documents and publications relative to Cameroon’s development assistance are mostly unpublished and inaccessible, this study will principally focus on the Chinese White Paper on Foreign Aid. It will also look, amongst others, at the Beijing Declaration of the FOCAC (2004), the White Paper on China-Africa Economic and Trade Co-operation (August 2013). Moreover this research will be complemented through secondary sources such as books, journals articles, report, working papers, press reviews, drafts, deliberation of international conferences and international summits, and internet sources

Cette thèse de doctorat effectuée à l’Université Paris-Sorbonne est le résultat de quatre années de recherches sur le rôle des Organisations de la Société Civile (OSC) camerounaises dans la réalisation des Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement (OMD). Fondée sur une expérience participative de 18 mois dans le milieu du développement au Cameroun, sur plusieurs dizaines d’entretiens avec des OSC camerounaises, des ONG internationales et les principaux partenaires techniques et financiers du Cameroun ainsi que sur l’analyse statistique de plus de 300 OSC camerounaises travaillant dans le domaine des OMD, cette thèse cherche à mesurer l’impact des OSC sur les indicateurs de développement et à déterminer les facteurs susceptibles d’optimiser cet impact. Alors que l’initiative des OMD, lancée par les Nations Unies en 2000, arrive à son terme en 2015, le bilan tiré par les différents acteurs du développement appelle à une participation accrue des OSC dans les pays bénéficiaires de l’aide internationale. Ce travail confirme l’intérêt que peuvent avoir les acteurs institutionnels du développement à collaborer avec la société civile pour améliorer les conditions de vie des populations et l’efficience des ressources allouées au développement
This doctorate thesis undertaken at Paris-Sorbonne University results from four years of research on the role of Cameroonian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the achievementof the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Based on an 18-month participatory experience in development in Cameroon, on several dozens of interviews with Cameroonian CSOs, international NGOs and the key technical and financial partners of Cameroon as well as on the statistical analysis of over 300 Cameroonian CSOs operating in MDG-related fields,this thesis intends to measure the impact of CSOs in development indicators and to determine the factors which can optimize this impact. As the MDG initiative, launched by the United Nations in 2000, reaches its term in 2015, its final assessment by different developments takeholders calls for a stronger participation of CSOs in countries benefiting from international aid. This research confirms the interest institutional stakeholders can find incollaborating with civil society to improve the living conditions of populations and the efficiency of the resources allocated to development

In the study of development, researchers attempt to identify and measure the independent variables believed to influence economic growth and social development indicators in countries throughout the world. These researchers employ quantitative cross-national research methods, also known as the variable-oriented approach, while others may pursue a more case-oriented approach and examine a handful of countries employing a historical-comparative method. Education is a variable that has been identified in both of these research traditions to be positively related to the development of a country. However, when the effects of education on development are examined cross-nationally, it is clear that the countries of Africa have not experienced the same levels of economic growth as countries in other regions, such as in Latin America and Asia. To find out why Africa is not experiencing the same rate of growth as other regions this study explored the barriers to educational attainment and economic development in a sample of three African countries: Cameroon, Kenya, and Swaziland, A historical comparative approach was used to identify the historical factors giving rise to the present situation in each country. Each country's political, economic, and geographic history is discussed to provide a context for the present-day situation. The research then examined how a variety of decisions made by each country's leaders has shaped the ability of young children to attend school as well as shaping each country's overall development. This research project found that HIV/AIDS, land distribution, and corruption were the primary barriers in all three countries that obstructed education from having a positive influence on development. Each country may not exhibit the same level of HIV/AIDS, land distribution, and corruption, but all three experience some form of these three inhibiting factors. The findings suggest that the factors stem from historical causes in each country as well as poor political decisions made by politicians and leaders over the last several decades. The study also concluded that the three inhibiting factors all work interdependently and each problem cannot, be solved independently. The barring factors mitigate any effect education has on the development of the country by decreasing children's ability to attend school and decreasing tlie country's levels of human capita1.

Linking education, science and technology with national development is a subject of increasing concern in many developing countries. In this dissertation, we have studied empirically the contribution, or lack of it, which public investment in education, science and technology has made to the attainment of development objectives in Cameroon since 1960. Using a small computable macroeconometric model of Cameroon incorporating some major relevant quantitative aspects of the knowledge sector, we have investigated the effects on that sector and on the overall economic system of increased education- and research-service resources. We have also analyzed some of the major qualitative factors that are important in this sector.
Our results suggest that, given existing patterns of education, science and technology in Cameroon, the contribution of public investment in this sector may be small compared to the potential contribution suggested in the literature. The implications of these results are examined for policy-making and planning at the national level.

The increasing body of literature in the field of development theory holds that information and communications technologies (ICTs) are essential for improving the living conditions in developing countries. Since this view is shared by many governments and international organizations it is also a foundation for policy making. In this thesis I examine the role of ICTbased entrepreneurship in Cameroon and how such entrepreneurs can improve the economic conditions in the developing world. Using a qualitative approach I do a case study by mapping small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon's ICT industry and identify the key drivers and barriers for the entrepreneurial process of ICT development. The data is mainly collected from field work in Cameroon during two months in 2010. The method is influenced by ethnography and apart from observations, includes semi structured interviews with 14 contributors and a survey of 20 Internet cafés. The empirical material analyzed in a development context based on a research model using theories of ICT development, institutional economics and entrepreneurship. Weak institutions are often theorized to be the main reasons why sub-Saharan Africa is behind in the economic progress and the study gives many examples of how ICT-based entrepreneurship can overcome weak institutions in Cameroon. Conversely, it also demonstrates that ICT-based entrepreneurship can create lock-ins and reinforce bad structures. In the context of this study the entrepreneurial process was found to be characterized by a strong commitment to the community, social groups and family. The most common perceived barriers among the entrepreneurs are governmental centralization, bureaucracy and corruption. The difficulty in getting funding is also a common obstacle. The study further shows that ICT entrepreneurs have an important role for increasing the level of ICT awareness. Internet cafés have many important functions in the society and serve many other purposes than just providing Internet. Private education centers are common and very important since they can make up for the malfunctions of the national education system. However, many education centers might have a wrong focus and could be made more efficient.

En Afrique subsaharienne (ASS), les élites locales sont les acteurs décisifs de l’émergence de l’économie locale. Elles doivent permettre la valorisation des ressources territoriales, la mise en place de règles du jeu, la constitution des entreprises et des acteurs. L’existence d’élites locales est en ce sens un facteur de réussite du DEL.Dans cette thèse, nous nous demandons quels sont les fonctions, les capacités et les comportements de ces élites du DEL, aussi diverses qu’elles puissent être. Nous avons réalisé une étude de cas sur le territoire de Foumban au Cameroun. Nous avons choisi d’utiliser une méthode qualitative passant par trois étapes : le développement d’un concept et de critères de repérage des élites du DEL, leur identification à Foumban et la conduite d’entretiens semi-directifs en face-à-face avec les élites identifiées.Nous expliquons dans cette thèse que le DEL en ASS est un processus qui repose sur les dynamiques d’une multitude d’élites locales, qui, à travers leurs actions et leurs interactions, construisent les capacités des territoires. Les élites du DEL sont des individus pluriels qui poursuivent leurs intérêts et qui usent de leur pouvoir. Elles réalisent un travail institutionnel et modifient les règles du jeu, intentionnellement ou non. Elles ne sont pas les dirigeants formels, mais sont certains acteurs qui sont fonctionnels, qui sont à l’origine du changement et qui permettent de révéler le potentiel du territoire.Elles exercent deux fonctions essentielles au DEL: l’activation, c’est-à-dire la mobilisation des parties prenantes, et l’expertise, c’est-à-dire l’identification de solutions pour valoriser les ressources territoriales.A Foumban, nous avons observé que les élites du DEL mettent en oeuvre des actions concrètes et s’appuient sur des capacités leur permettant de réussir à mettre en oeuvre leurs fonctions. Nous avons également remarqué d’importantes divergences d’opinions entre les élites, par exemple sur l’impact des communautés sur le développement local et sur le type d’approche du DEL à adopter : top-down ou bottom-up.Contrairement aux pratiques occidentales qui mettent en avant la coopération entre les acteurs, nous montrons que, dans un contexte de développement et de transition, la transformation du local en territoire passe par l’existence d’une biodiversité d’élites locales en compétition qui créent, modifient et sélectionnent les institutions au cours de vives négociations et de multiples confrontations. Les élites font alors avancer les débats essentiels. Toutes les idées sont négociables jusqu’à atteindre une situation stable.Nous avons également mis en lumière l’existence d’un consensus sur un sujet essentiel pour le DEL, l’importance des Très Petites Entreprises. Elles sont capables de réconcilier l’économie communautaire et l’économie commerciale. Ce consensus montre que, derrière leur diversité et leurs confrontations, les élites du DEL partagent certaines valeurs et qu’il existe une certaine conscience collective sur la stratégie gagnante
In subsaharan Africa (SSA) the local elite is the key player of local economic emergence. The elite of LED must lead to the valorisation of territorial ressources, to the setting-up of the rules of the game, to the creation of local firms and local players. The existence of local elite is therefore a success factor of LED.In this thesis, we have investigated the functions, the capacities and the behaviours, opinions and practices of the various members of the local elite of LED. We have conducted a qualitative research with the case study in Foumban, Cameroon. Our methodology was organised in three main steps: development of a concept and of identification criterias of the elite of LED; identification of this elite in Foumban; face-to-face interviews with the elite.As we explain in this thesis, LED in SSA is a process that requires a variety of local elite who build the capacities of territories through its actions and interactions. The elite of LED is made by individuals, pursuing their own interests, and using their powers. They are doing an institutional work and they are changing the rules of the game intentionally or not. They are not the official players, but only those functional players able to unlock the territorial potential through two main actions: the activation, that aims at mobilizing stakeholders and the expertise, that aims at imagining solutions to generate the territorial ressources.In Foumban, we have observed that the elite of LED we identified is conducting concrete actions and in doing so relies on capacities to implemt its LED functions. We also have noticed strong differences among the opinions of the elite of LED, for example about the issue of the impact of communities on development, about the territory as a container or a recipient of resources, or about bottom-up vs. top-down LED approach.Unlike the Western approach of LED promoting the cooperation between the main stakeholders, we have highlighted that in a context of development and transition, the transformation of local level into a productive territory needs the intervention of a “biodiversity” of local elite in competition. Its multiple confrontations and difficult negotiations enable the creation, the change and the selection of performing institutions. The local elite of LED is debating about the future : all ideas can be expressed and are negotiable until a stable situation has been reached.In Foumban, we also have identified a consensus within the elite on a key issue: the importance of the Very Small Firms for local development. This consensus shows that behind differences and competitions, the local elite shares some values and that a certain collective awareness does exist about the winning strategy

Comprendre les rétroactions entre les maladies infectieuses, la structure des écosystèmes et le développement économique est nécessaire pour alléger le fardeau des maladies tropicales négligées. Ce groupe d'infections parasitaires, virales, et bactériennes est étroitement associé à des conditions géographiques, environnementales, sanitaires et économiques particulières aux régions tropicales. A travers l'étude de l'ulcère de Buruli, une maladie émergente et négligée associé à une morbidité et handicap très importants dans des régions tropicales, ce travail de thèse s'intéresse aux interactions complexes entre ces différents composants des systèmes épidémiologiques. Combinant un travail de terrain important pour la collecte des données environnementales avec une approche de recherche multidisciplinaire, cette thèse vise à améliorer notre compréhension des différents aspects de l'écologie et de l'épidémiologie de cette maladie infectieuse. Notamment, la dynamique de son agent pathogène, M. ulcerans, est caractérisée pour un large éventail d'écosystèmes et communautés aquatiques au Cameroun, permettant d'identifier les facteurs environnementaux permettant sa propagation. En outre, nous évaluons la transmission de l'agent pathogène de l'environnement à l'homme et l'impact de la maladie sur le développement économique des populations endémiques. Ainsi, ce travail montre comment les dynamiques écologiques, épidémiologiques, environnementales et économiques interagissent de concert, mettant en évidence de façon criante le besoin d'une telle approche interdisciplinaire dans l'étude des maladies tropicales négligées
Understanding the feedbacks between infectious diseases, ecosystem structure and economic development is necessary to alleviate the burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases. This group of parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections is closely associated with particular geographical and environmental conditions mainly present in the tropics, thriving under conditions of poverty, inefficient sanitation and malnutrition. This PhD thesis works through the case study of Buruli ulcer, an emerging and neglected infectious disease associated with a great morbidity and disability burden in tropical regions. Relying on an extensive environmental field survey and a multidisciplinary research approach, this PhD attempts to gain a better understanding of different aspects of the ecology and epidemiology of Buruli ulcer. Notably, the dynamics of its pathogen, M. ulcerans are characterized for a wide range of freshwater ecosystems and aquatic communities in Cameroon, and the environmental drivers of M. ulcerans presence are investigated. Furthermore, we assess the transmission of the pathogen from the environment to humans and the impact of the disease on the economic development of endemic populations. Thus, this work shows how the interplay between ecological, epidemiological and economic dynamics interact together and calls for an urgent need to apply such inter-disciplinary approach to decrease the burden of neglected tropical diseases

Many developing countries depend on the World Bank for development assistance, which the Bank often provides with policy reform conditions. Resistance to World Bank’s conditionality caused the Bank to posit “ownership” as a country’s real assent to its development policies. The combination of ownership and conditionality invalidates the neocolonial, false-paradigm and dualism theses in explaining the international dependence development model. This study explains this model by investigating how the relationship between conditionality and ownership in the context of this model impacts forest management in Cameroon. Integrating theoretical and methodological insights mainly from political science, economics, geosciences, and sociology, the study finds that in this model, conditionality and ownership have a hybrid relationship that fosters and hinders effective forest management in Cameroon. This finding positions policy hybridity within this model. It proposes a nouvelle way to understand international development policies’ interactions, and the effects of the interactions on natural resource management.

La dimension territoriale est devenue un enjeu majeur ces vingt dernières années autant au niveau des entreprises qu'au niveau des institutions. Pour les premières, les préoccupations territoriales résident essentiellement dans le choix des localisations des activités et des formes de coopération entrepreneuriale. Pour les secondes, la problématique récurrente est celle de l'aménagement des territoires qui s'appuie sur la gouvernance territoriale. Ainsi, partant de l'idéologie inhérente à cette thèse, notre objectif central était de déterminer et d'évaluer les facteurs de gouvernance mettant en avant le rôle du territoire et de la proximité dans le développement industriel à Douala. Le développement de nos idées s'est articulé autour d'un exposé se présentant en deux parties comportant, chacune, deux chapitres. Ainsi, avant d'aborder le cadre analytique de la gestion spatiale et de la prolifération industrielle à Douala (deuxième partie), nous avons passé en revue le cadre théorique et empirique de la localisation industrielle et la dynamique territoriale (première partie). L'objectif de la première partie a été de retracer les grandes lignes de l'évolution de la localisation des activités industrielles telles qu'elles sont établies par certains travaux à l'instar d'une part, de ceux d'A. MARSHALL (1890), P. KRUGMAN (1991) et les théories territoriales et, d'autre part, de spécifier les analyses empiriques du développement industriel à Douala. L'approche régulationniste (deuxième partie), interpelle les règles de coordinations réciproques entre les interventions publiques et les stratégies des acteurs du secteur privé dans les processus de localisation industrielles et de développement local à Douala. Ceci est généralement rendu efficace suite aux interactions et coordinations véhiculées entre les collectivités locales et les acteurs territoriaux. La combinaison de la coordination à l'intérieur de la sphère publique, avec la coordination à l'intérieur de la sphère privée dans un partenariat élargi, constitue vraisemblablement le mode opératoire le plus efficace de la gouvernance territoriale bien comprise pour traiter les problèmes transversaux de cette ville et la zone CEMAC.

Les écosystèmes forestiers d’Afrique centrale en général, et ceux du Cameroun en particulier, sont très riches en ressources naturelles. Ils offrent de nombreuses opportunités aux populations pour leurs moyens de subsistance. Cependant, face à la mise en place du processus de développement socio-économique, ce milieu est confronté à de nombreuses menaces, notamment, la déforestation, la dégradation, le braconnage, la pollution, la surexploitation des ressources biotiques et abiotiques, etc. Le législateur camerounais, sous l’impulsion de l’action de la coopération internationale, a adopté plusieurs instruments juridiques internationaux et nationaux prévoyant des mesures de protection des écosystèmes forestiers durant la réalisation des projets de développement socio-économique. Toutefois, l'analyse minutieuse du dispositif normatif et institutionnel mis en place au Cameroun, montre que les mécanismes juridiques de protection des écosystèmes forestiers durant la réalisation des projets de développement socio-économique, quoique pluriels, restent ineffectifs et inefficaces. Beaucoup d’efforts restent encore à fournir sur certains aspects qualitatifs de la législation. L’application des mécanismes juridiques existants ne favorise pas l’atteinte des objectifs d’une protection efficace et efficiente des écosystèmes forestiers. Les problèmes liés aux ressources humaines et financières, de gouvernance forestière, d’incoordination institutionnelle, d’analphabétisme écologique, de la pauvreté généralisée des populations, de conflit entre la tradition et la modernité ont pour conséquence de relativiser l’effectivité et l’efficacité de la protection des espaces forestiers au Cameroun. Pour relever ce défi, il faut nécessairement mettre en œuvre de nombreuses actions, dont les plus pertinentes sont la reformulation du cadre législatif, l’amélioration du système de gouvernance et l’élaboration d’une convention internationale sur les forêts
The forest ecosystems of Central Africa in general and those of Cameroon in particular, are very rich in natural resources. They offer many opportunities for people in terms of livelihoods. However, faced with the implementation of the process of socio-economic development, this environment is confronted with many threats including deforestation, degradation, poaching, pollution, overexploitation of biotic and abiotic resources, etc. The Cameroonian legislator, spurred by the action of international cooperation, has adopted several international legal instruments and has legislated on measures to protect forest ecosystems during the implementation of socio-economic development projects. However, a careful analysis of the normative and institutional framework put in place in Cameroon shows that the legal mechanisms for protecting forest ecosystems during the implementation of socio-economic development projects, although plural, remain ineffective and inefficient. There is still much work to be done on some aspects of legislation and enforcement of existing legal mechanisms to ensure that forest ecosystem protection objectives are effective and efficient. The problems of human and financial resources, forest governance, institutional incoordination, ecological illiteracy, widespread poverty of the people, conflict between tradition and modernity have the effect of putting into perspective the effectiveness and efficiency of the protection of forest ecosystems in Cameroon. Meeting this challenge requires the implementation of several actions, the most salient of which are the reformulation of the legislative framework, the improvement of governance and the elaboration of an international convention on forests

La thèse porte sur la problématique de l’efficience du financement intermédié des processus de croissance et de développement économiques. Elle s'intéresse d’une part à la résolution des problèmes d’inefficience liés à la présence d’asymétries informationnelles et de l’incertitude sur les marchés du crédit grâce aux mécanismes réputationnels mis en œuvre dans le cadre des relations de long terme banques-emprunteurs et d’autre part, aux conditions dans lesquelles ces mécanismes peuvent émerger et se développer, en particulier dans un pays en développement comme le Cameroun.La thèse a donc une portée à la fois conceptuelle, empirique et normative.En premier lieu, nous avons cherché à alimenter le débat théorique sur la pertinence et l'intérêt du mécanisme réputationnel dans le processus d’intermédiation bancaire. Nous montrons que, contrairement aux modèles habituels d’intermédiation de la théorie d’agence, où les mécanismes de sanctions ou de coercitions judiciaires restent souvent inefficaces et coûteuses, le caractère auto-exécutoire du mécanisme de la réputation suffit seul à garantir l’efficacité de son fonctionnement. De plus, le mécanisme réputationnel nous semble mieux concilier deux conceptions opposées du comportement des acteurs que sont l’homo economicus et l’homo sociologicus. De ce fait, ce mécanisme est susceptible de constituer un cadre d'analyse intéressant pour la modélisation des comportements bancaires notamment dans le contexte des PED africains où les incertitudes restent exacerbées et où prédominent des rationalités économiques beaucoup plus fondées sur les valeurs. En second lieu, les résultats de notre enquête statistique de terrain permettent de montrer qu'au Cameroun, par rapport aux Institutions Financières Décentralisées (IFD) comme la MicroFinance, les Institutions Financières Formelles (IFF) semblent accorder une moindre importance aux pratiques réputationnelles dans leur comportement d'allocation des capitaux, en particulier aux PME. Ceci est susceptible d'apporter une des meilleures explications au différentiel de performance micro-économique, se situant ici à l'avantage des IFD.Enfin, la même enquête nous permet de mettre fortement en évidence l'existence de nombreux facteurs à la fois internes et externes empêchant aux deux catégories de banques une meilleure prise en compte du mécanisme réputationnel. Ce constat nous conduit à proposer des axes ou pistes de réflexion, à formuler et à justifier un ensemble de recommandations à la fois organisationnelles, institutionnelles et réglementaires associées. Ceci dans l’objectif de construire un système bancaire camerounais plus fiable et plus solide en incitant les banques à mieux intégrer les pratiques réputationnelles dans leur jugement d'octroi de crédit aux emprunteurs
This thesis focusses on the problematic of the efficiency of intermediate finance on the economic growth and development processes. It concerned, on one hand, the resolution of inefficiency problems resulting from the presence of asymmetric information and uncertainty involved credit markets when reputational mechanisms implemented through banks-borrowers long-term relationships are used and, on the other hand, the conditions in which these mechanisms could emerged and expanded, in particular in a developing country such as Cameroon.The thesis thus has, at the same time, conceptual, empirical and normative purpose First of all, we tried to enrich the theoretical debate about relevance and interest of the reputational mechanism relating banking intermediation process. We show that, while in the models of agency where judicial penalties and pressures mechanisms are often ineffective and expensive, only the auto-enforceable character of the reputational mechanism is enough to guarantee its efficacious functioning. Furthermore, for us, the reputational mechanism seems better to reconcile the two usual opposite conceptions of agents behaviors that are homoeconomicus and homosociologicus. Therefore, this mechanism might constitute an interesting analysis framework for modeling banking behavior, in particular in the context of African economies where uncertainties remain aggravated and where much more economic rationalities based on the values prevail.Secondly, our statistical survey issues clearly shows that in Cameroon, with regard to decentralized financial institutions (DFIs) like Microfinance unities, formal financial institutions (FFI) seem to attach less importance to reputational practices in their capital allowance behaviour, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is likely to provide a better explanation of the differential micro-economic performance, situated here to the advantage of DFI.Finally, the same above mentioned survey strongly reveal the existence of many both internal and external factors preventing both categories of banks in a better consideration of reputational mechanisms. We then proposed axes or lines of reflection, formulated and justified a set of corporate, institutional and regulatory associated recommendations. This with the aim to build a more reliable and more solid Cameroonian banking system by inciting banks to better integrate reputational practices in their judgment of granting credits to borrowers

Die deutsche Außenpolitik zur Zeit des Kalten Krieges stellt in historischer wie politikwissenschaftlicher Hinsicht einen Gegenstand dar, der mit gutem Gewissen als wissenschaftlich erschlossen bezeichnet werden kann. Zahlreiche Aufsätze, Artikel und Bücher sind in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten erschienen, welche die deutsche Außenpolitik in Europa, Afrika, Asien, Ozeanien, Amerika, oder auch gleich der Welt als Ganzem, in den Blick genommen haben. Dies gilt sowohl für die Außenpolitik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland als auch für diejenige der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik. Früh – wenn nicht sogar von Beginn an – kam hierbei eine zentrale These, eine Kernthese, zum Vorschein, die, ohne auf Widerstand zu stoßen, Eingang in den historischen und politikwissenschaftlichen Forschungskanon fand und ihn bereits nach kurzer Zeit zu dominieren begann. Die Rede ist von der die deutschen Auslandsaktivitäten angeblich bestimmenden Hallstein-Doktrin und dem mit ihr in engem Zusammenhang stehenden deutsch-deutschen Gegensatz. In dieser Arbeit wird dieser Kernthese, diesem ''Mythos'' der deutschen Außenpolitik, vehement widersprochen. Weder die Hallstein-Doktrin, noch der deutsch-deutsche Gegensatz, sondern nationale ökonomische und internationale geostrategische Interessen haben die deutsche Außenpolitik – und darüber hinaus auch die gesamten deutschen Auslandsaktivitäten, der BRD wie der DDR – maßgeblich bestimmt. Zur Stützung dieser Gegenthese werden in der vorliegenden Studie die staatlichen, wirtschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen Aktivitäten West- und Ostdeutschlands in neun zentralafrikanischen Staaten zwischen 1945 und 1975 kritisch dargelegt, umfassend analysiert und im Hinblick auf mehrere zentrale Thesen zu den deutschen Auslandsaktivitäten ausgewertet.
For decades articles and books have been published on the history of German foreign policy during Cold War. Regardless of whether Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, America or the world as a whole, the foreign affairs of the Western Federal Republic of Germany and the Eastern German Democratic Republic have been researched and analysed in context of a broad variety of locations. However, even though the list of publications continues to grow, the topic''s theses–especially its main thesis–do not show much progress. Already at an early stage, a central thesis–a core thesis–came to light, met no resistance and entered history''s and political science''s research canons on German foreign policy. This thesis reads: Inner German issues and the non-solved German question were so powerful, they dominated West and East German foreign affairs nearly right from the start. German foreign policy, that was the so-called Hallstein doctrine, that was the so-called German-German contradiction. And all studies–whether of history or political science, whether designed as a case study or as a global approach–confirm this thesis, use it as an integral part of their work–until today. But be that as it may. This study contradicts this thesis, this ''myth'' of German foreign policy. Instead it argues that neither the Hallstein doctrine nor the German-German contradiction, but national economic and international geostrategic interests dominated German foreign policy and German foreign activities–regarding the FRG, the GDR, and Germany as a whole. To proof this thesis, West and East German activities–of the two states, their economies and their societies–in nine Central African states between 1945 and 1975 are observed and analysed. More than a million file pages out of more than a dozen German archives were read to tackle this task–and shed some refreshing new light on the foreign policies of the two German states during Cold War.

The causal relationship between financial development and economic growth is a controversial issue. For developing countries, empirical studies have provided mixed result. This study seeks to empirically explore the relationship and the causal link between financial development and economic growth in two sub-Saharan African countries between 1970 and 2006. The empirical investigation is carried out using time methods and the five most commonly used indicators of financial development in the literature. However, the causal relationship was carried out using two different methods which are the autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing (ARDL) and the vector error correction model (VECM). Using this above methodology the study first found that in both countries there is a positive and long-term relationship between all the indicators of financial development and economic growth which was proxied by the real per capita GDP. With respect to the causality test, the two methods used provide mixed results especially in South Africa. In Cameroon the study found that financial development causes economic growth using the two methods, whereas in South Africa economic growth causes financial development when the VECM method is used, while there is an independence relationship between the two variables in South Africa when using ARDL.
Economics
M.Comm. (Economics)