Those of you who read the recent Wall Street Journal account of the long and often deadly trek from Senegal to France via Libya understand all to well the importance of creating employment opportunities in Senegal and the rest of the Franc CFA countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger and Togo). Professor McLeod Chair of the Economics Department is part of a World Bank Team studying how to increase the regions competiveness even beyond the remarkable progress that has occurred the past decade. Though the region has natural ties to the EU (including a large Diaspora) and some comparative advantage in light manufactures, unemployment rates remain high and wages low compared to low skilled jobs in Paris. 
The purpose of this project is to recommend the right mix of macroeconomic and industry specific policies to increase the region competitiveness. The recent depreciation of the Euro has helped, but not with respect to large EU markets for the region’s exports. If you are interested in working on this project please contact Professor Darryl McLeod through his department email address.
Ibrahima Ba, in a family photo, is believed to have drowned in April alongside 700 migrants when their boat sank in the Mediterranean. His mother said, ‘He wanted to have his own means.’ PHOTO:DREW HINSHAW/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL