Open AccessMicroeconomic Competitiveness And Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Firm-Level Evidence From Zimbabwe
Author(s) -
Marianne Matthee,
Waldo Krugell,
Macleans Mzumara
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the international business and economic research journal/the international business and economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2157-9393
pISSN - 1535-0754
DOI - 10.19030/iber.v14i3.9214
Subject(s) - obstacle , face (sociological concept) , investment (military) , politics , business , economic system , industrial organization , market economy , development economics , economics , political science , social science , sociology , law
This paper examines the micro-level factors that constrain Zimbabwean firms in the countrys post-conflict environment. An analysis was conducted into what Zimbabwean firms see as their most debilitating obstacle to achieving higher levels of competitiveness. Among the findings was that so-called non-politically constrained firms face many challenges in their day-to-day operations, which often points to internal strategic and operational shortcomings. Politically constrained firms, on the other hand, have progressed to a stage where their internal systems are in good shape, but their future vision and goals are potentially threatened by the unstable political situation in the country. This creates uncertainty, which can impact negatively on ongoing investment and expansion.