Description:
In the last 25 years, Cape Verde has
made impressive progress in their historical transition from
a centrally planned to market economy. Building the
institutional foundations of a market economy, this small
nation of islands located off the coast of West Africa has
developed a vibrant private sector and opened to
international trade. This has ignited economic growth, which
in turn has brought about higher incomes and reduced
poverty. Currently, Cape Verde has a well-functioning market
economy and as a result graduated from the ranks of the low
income countries to one of middle-income status. Such a
successful transition, achieved over a short period of time,
exceeded many observers' expectations. In any economy,
the issue of high and persistent unemployment centers on the
dynamics of net job creation linked to firm entry and firm
expansion. The issue of disparities in labor market outcomes
centers on the tendencies of reallocation of jobs and
workers away from less productive regions, sectors and firms
toward more productive economic activities. This study finds
that in both fronts-net job creation and reallocation, there
is reason for optimism. Job creation is substantially above
job destruction. With respect to divergent labor market
outcomes across islands, there is a trend towards
convergence indicating that a national and integrated job
market is emerging. Furthermore, as expected, these two
developments are highly interlinked; emigration from areas
and sectors characterized by relatively lower job growth and
immigration into regions and sectors with relatively higher
job growth is taking place. The study also offers
preliminary findings about the effects of a public sector
wage premium on labor market outcomes and, separately, there
are indicative findings on factors that may be affecting the
decision of workers to enter and stay in the informal sector
or enter into formal employment.