A 1991 social accounting matrix (SAM) for Zimbabwe

AGRODEP Author
Authors
Marcelle Thomas and Romeo M. Bautista
Publisher
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

The 1991 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Zimbabwe that we document in this paper is intended to provide benchmark data for economy-wide analysis . Its construction is based on a three-step process: (1) building a macro SAM that presents the aggregative features of the Zimbabwean economy and serves as a control matrix for the micro SAM; (2) disaggregation into a complete but unbalanced micro SAM; and (3) balancing the disaggregated and complete micro SAM using the cross-entropy approach. The macro SAM entries are based on aggregates from a recent, significant revision of the Zimbabwe national accounts for 1991. The structure of the micro SAM is a disaggregated version of the macro SAM. The outcome is an 88 by 88 matrix that includes 36 activities, 27 commodities, 9 factors of production (4 labor, 3 capital, and 2 land categories), 5 households groups, and one account each for enterprises, government, investment/saving, and rest-of-the-world. Among the significant features of the Zimbabwean economy that are explicitly taken into account in the SAM structure are the importance of agriculture, the distinction between smallholder and large-scale commercial farms, home consumption by smallholder farm households, and the large marketing margins that reflect inefficiencies in trade and transport infrastructure.

Publication date
Source / Citation
Thomas, M., and R. Bautista. 1999. "A 1991 social accounting matrix (SAM) for Zimbabwe." Trade and Macroeconomics Division, Discussion Paper No. 36. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute.
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Location
http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/tmdp36.pdf