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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Fate of an African 'Chaebol': Malawi's Press Corporation after Democratisation
Author:Donge, Jan K. vanISNI
Year:2002
Periodical:Journal of Modern African Studies
Volume:40
Issue:4
Period:December
Pages:651-681
Language:English
Geographic term:Malawi
Subjects:private enterprises
public enterprises
Literature, Mass Media and the Press
Economics and Trade
Politics and Government
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/3876029
Abstract:Press Corporation, a large diversified Malawian company, was the personal property of Kamuzu Banda who ruled Malawi as a dictator for thirty years from independence in 1964. The history of Press is analysed in order to generate insights into the relationship between politics and economics in Africa. Comparative references are made to the experience of East Asian countries, as there are important similarities between their development paths and that of Malawi under Banda. The activities of Press Corporation were, in general, similar to parastatal companies elsewhere in Africa but, unlike the latter, Press was profitable and viable as a commercial entity. This challenges the idea that there is a compelling logic in African patrimonialist politics which necessitates parasitism on the economy. The experience of Press points to the value of such large multisectoral companies, as they can mobilize scarce local savings and channel them as venture capital into areas where investment has large external benefits, while the discipline of the profit and loss account in the company is not lost. App., bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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