ABSTRACT
At independence, Senegalese nationals inherited a relatively well-equipped physical and social infrastructure and a gross domestic product per capita that was larger than that of either the Ivory Coast or Cameroon. Over the quarter of a century that followed, however, the economy failed to raise either labor productivity or real per capita income. Despite certain structural changes, the Senegal economy strongly reflects the production patterns established during the colonial period. The principal engine of growth in Senegal’s economy from 1960 to 1986 was the secondary sector, with industry accounting for over 60 percent of its value added. The trade regime in Senegal is considered to have been a prime example of overlapping policies with contradictory effects. Senegal’s economy has performed poorly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, with growth resuming at a somewhat faster pace from the mid 1980s on.
