ABSTRACT
In West Africa (as in many other countries) governmental policies have often had restrictive effects and have served to strengthen concentration in trade. Those who have framed and administered these measures have rarely deliberately intended to produce those results. Nevertheless, the consequences have not been less serious or far-reaching for having been largely unintended and unforeseen. The control of immigration is among the most important of official policies to which this conclusion applies. The immigration policy of the West African administrations is a principal factor shielding the existing firms from effective competition. Further, the immigration policy has important economic effects on the formation of capital, on the provision of employment opportunities, and on the general development of West Africa.
