The Recent Economic Reforms in Botswana - An Assessment

Abstract

This paper critically evaluates the economic reforms that have been adopted in Botswana since 2008. The year 2008 is significant for two (2) main reasons; it was the year when: (i) a new president, Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, was inaugurated, and (ii) a global financial economic recession was declared. Our analysis reveals that most of the recently introduced economic policies were uncoordinated and lacked the intensity to bolster economic activity and mitigate the economic slowdown. Furthermore, the policies give mixed signals as to their intended outcome. For instance, one would have expected that the money raised from the alcohol levy would be used to support anti-alcohol campaigns and rehabilitate abusers rather than be diverted to other projects.

Keywords: economic reforms, tax reforms, recession, economic policies, uncoordinated, economic slowdown.