Ethiopia

ECON 3510 Fall, 2015

Main Ethnic Groups

Some History

“Lucy”•Discovered in 1972•Estimated era: between 3.22 and 3.18 million years

Some History

• The earliest evidence: around 1000BC when the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon.– The imperial family of Ethiopia claims its

origin directly from the offspring of the Queen of Sheba by King Solomon.

• First recorded kingdom in Ethiopia grew around Axum during the 3rd century BC.

• Christianity adopted when the king was converted around 330 AD; an ancient and unique form of Christianity

• Continuous conflict with the expanding Islamic movement, ultimately with the Ottoman Empire

Unsuccessful Italian Conquest, Defeat by the Ethiopians at the Battle of Adowa, 1896

In 1916, Haile Selassie, born Prince Ras Tafari Ras Tafari Makonnen, was proclaimed Emperor in 1930

•Italians under Mussolini invade again, 1936,

(the League of Nations did nothing)Expelled by Ethiopians and British in 1941

•Eritrian situation: •Under UK control;•Joined with Ethiopia in a Federation in 1952•Annexed outright in 1962•Guerrilla war breaks out•Independence in 1991; •Warfare with Ethiopia on and off ever since

Highly inequitable pattern of development for many years; Feudal system;

1974: a social revolution and a group of junior army officers led by Mengistu Haile Miriam imposed a military Marxist dictatorship.

Expelled Americans Some radical reforms

Somalis invade to reclaim OgadenUSSR & Cuba back Ethiopia !U.S. backs Somalia !

Radicalization under Mengistu: ‘People's committees‘ tried to control the

everyday people’s livesMany people were forcibly moved in an

attempt to counter famine. Conscription into the army called on ever man

from 18 to 70 years old.

Mengistu left in 1991Reasonable internal stability since 1991Development record: weak, 1970-1990;

Accelerated growth, 2000-2014

Basic Information on EthiopiaDemographic:

Population: 90. million (2011)Population Growth Rate: 2.5% per annum

but diminishing (Doubling every 30 years)

Fertility Rate: 4.8 children per womanbut falling

Life Expectancy: 2000: 43.9 years2012: 59.7

Human Development Index:2000: .270 2013: .435Rank in World: # 173 (of 186)

Economic Indicators:GDP per capita (PPP) in 2013: $ 1,305

GDP per capita (PPP) Africa: $ 3,152

GDP Growth rate, per capita,2000-2007: 1.5 % p.a.2007-2013: +/- 6 % pre year (my estimate)

Arable land per person: 1.7 hectaresArable land as %of total: 13%

Gini Coefficient: .30 (among the most equal in the world)

Exports: $ 1.28 billion; or about $16.20 per inhabitantManufactured Exports as % of Total: 13%

for Africa: 34%