The Collapse Of Zimbabwe In The Wake Of The 2000-2003 Land Reforms

by Craig Richardson

Seeking to explain the "crushing speed" of Zimbabwe's economic collapse at the turn of the millenium, Richardson (economics, Salem College) argues that President Robert Mugabe's seizure of some 4000 white-owned commercial farms had a much more wide-ranging impact than has previously been acknowledged. The land seizures wiped out billions of dollars of land equity vital for individual borrowing, broke a vital chain of business knowledge, and broke down trust that the rules of the marketplace would be fairly enforced by the government. He argues that these three results of the seizure had spillover effects throughout the economy, impacting the currency, the education and health care system, and the labor market. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

172 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004