Blog
Unit 4 Macro: Mauritania in search of growth and stability
14th April 2014
If you are searching for a vivid example of a country experiencing primary product dependency have a look at this short video report from the Financial Times. The lower middle income west African country is trying to modernise their economy but remains deeply at risk from outside external shocks including over-dependency on a single mineral and terrorist threats. Inequality may be the biggest risk to it's future.
Background Data (Source: World Bank)
| Indicator Name |
| Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) |
| Roads, paved (% of total roads) |
| Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) |
| Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) |
| Gross fixed capital formation (% of GDP) |
| Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) |
| External balance on goods and services (% of GDP) |
| Trade (% of GDP) |
| Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) |
| Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP) |
| Industry, value added (% of GDP) |
| Services, etc., value added (% of GDP) |
| Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %) |
| Mineral rents (% of GDP) |
| GDP growth (annual %) |
| GDP per capita (constant 2005 US$) |
| GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international $) |
| Total natural resources rents (% of GDP) |
| GNI per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international $) |
More reading:
BBC news: Western Saharan profile: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14115273
Financial Times: Mauritanian fisheries should contribute more to the economy (April 2014): www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d27109e6-b8c9-11e3-835e-...
Geoff Riley
Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for over thirty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD conferences in the UK and overseas.