Liberia ECON 3508, 2015

Some History First Habitation, going back to “Stone Age”; various peoples settle at different times 1461 to late 17th century: Portuguese, Dutch and British traders had contacts and built trading posts; No colonial power claimed it; 1822: the American Colonization Society, established Liberia to "repatriate" black Americans to greater freedom in AfricaAmerican Colonization Society

Afro-American immigrants viewed Africa as a "Promised Land," but they did not integrate into African society, considering themselves to be Americans. Colonization, 1821–1847 Independence: On July 26, 1847, Americo-Liberian settlers declared independence; for the Republic of Liberia. Joseph Jenkins RobertsJoseph Jenkins Roberts, First President of Liberia.

Americo-Liberian Rule (1847–1980) – Americo-Liberian domination over indigenous population – government, modeled after that of the U.S., democratic in structure, if not in substance Retained its independence during the Scramble for Africa, but lost its claim to territories that had been annexed by Britain and France.Scramble for Africa Weak isolated economy

April 12, 1980, a s military coup by a group of noncommissioned army officers led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe.military coup Samuel Doe – The soldiers were a mixture of the various ethnic groups that claimed marginalization at the hands of the minority Americo- Liberian settlers. Samuel Doe ruled with the People’s Redemption Council (1980–1989) President Samuel K. Doe with members of his "Peoples Redemption Council”

First Liberian Civil War (1989–1996) Dictatorial atmosphere that gripped the country was due largely to Samuel Doe's rule.Samuel Doe Americo-Liberian Charles Taylor, invadedCharles Taylor Second Liberian Civil War (1997–2003) Bloody, confused, child soldiers, atrocities Ended with intervention by ECOWAS and 1000 Nigerian troops plus 100 US Marines (and potential of 2000 more) Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, mobilize for action and were able to achieve peace in Liberia after a 14-year civil war Charles Taylor, now conconvicted for war crimes at The Hague. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf elected president (2005) Stability, democracy and economic improvement

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Economy: - Subsistence agricultural based Grinding sugar cane manually

Rubber Plantation

Palm Oil Plantation

Iron Ore Mining; Arcelor Mittal

A Statistical Snap-shot of Liberia (2012) Population+/- 4,290,000 Life Expectancy60.6 years GDP per capita (PPP)$US 506 GDP Rank#183 of 186 Population living in “the UNDP’s “Multiple Dimension Poverty” 83.9% GDP Growth, % per annum GDP Growth, to 13.5% p.a. Human Development Index0.329 #174 of 186 UNDP HDR 2013; African Statistical Yearbook, 2014

Liberia: Basic Demographic Indicators Population (million) Population Growth Rates(%) - 2.2% +2.4% Fertility Rates (births per woman) Urban Population (%) Dependency Ratios Children and seniors as % of adults, Median Age UNDP, HDR, 2010

Liberia: Structure of Employment CategoryNumberCategoryNumber Total Employment1,278,477 Open Unemplment 83,323 (5.7%) Formal Sector Agriculture Industry Services Other 231,584 (15.8%) 34,949 9, ,639 43,162 Informal Sector Agriculture Industry Services Other (78.5) 642, World Bank, Liberia: Employment and Pro-Poor Growth, November 19, 2010

– Firestone rubber plantations since the 1930s – Liberia has one of the world's largest national registries of ships, due to its status as a "flag of convenience“ (1,700 vessels registered )flag of convenience – Major iron ore producer – Informal sector alluvial diamond production