DIAL

This fourth issue of Dialogue (download) presents two articles on matters of importance for the future of Africa. The first (download 1k) concerns urban labour markets, their recent evolution and prospects. In particular, it highlights the future implications on the economic, social and political fronts of the rising unemployment and the "informalization" of the African economies which marked the past decade. The second article ( download 1k) questions the conditionality of adjustment programmes, their relative effectiveness and their relevance to the present circumstances of the region. It underlines the specificities of the African countries and proposes an adaptation of this conditionality to their characteristics.

The themes of these two articles - admittedly very different - provide a good illustration of the orientations DIAL has established for its medium-term work programme. During its 1995 meeting, the Board of our institution has in fact identified three main axes for our work in the coming years. It might be useful to mention them here so that the priorities and themes that define our work programme will be better known.

The first axis concerns the insertion of developing countries in the world economy. In this regard, DIAL will be investigating the competitivity of African exports, the debt of the countries in this region, and the adaptation of foreign aid to their situations.

The analysis of economic policies constitutes the second axis of our work. In this respect, the studies already undertaken by DIAL on the macro-economic situation, outlook and policies of various countries will be continued ; these studies will be supported as necessary by the preparation of economic models.

Finally, the third axis relates to the analysis of the impact on long-term growth of structural changes in resources ( population, human capital, environment ) and their distribution ( public finances, incomes ).

To conclude this editorial, we should mention that the first PhD dissertation prepared within DIAL has been brilliantly completed. Ms Mesple-Somps defended successfully her thesis " Public intermediate goods and general equilibrium. An analysis of public expenditures shocks in an open economy undergoing adjustment " in December 1995 and received the congratulations of the committee, with a proposal for a prize and a grant for the publication of her thesis. DIAL is of course extremely proud of this outstanding success ; we will endeavour to keep up the standard so established when defending future dissertations...