Citizenship and growth

• Author: Patrick Amir Imam - Kangni Kpodar
• Position: PATRICK AMIR IMAM is the IMF resident representative in Zimbabwe - KANGNI KPODAR is deputy division chief in the IMF's Strategy, Policy, and Review Department and senior fellow at the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development in Clermont-Ferrand, France
• Pages: 42-45

42 FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT | March 2019

T

he notion of citizenship has evolved over

time. Historically, allegiance was typically

to an ethnic group or a feudal lord. With

the birth of the nation-state in the 19th

century came the need to distinguish between those

who belonged to the state and those who didn’t,

and therefore to create a legal distinction between

nationals and foreigners. Most countries established

then, or at independence, a “code of nationality”

whose basic principles are still intact today. is

code, in most cases, defines who is a national and

how citizenship can be acquired. Citizens benefited

from such rights as voting, the ability to move freely

within the country, and the eligibility to work.

ey also had responsibilities, such as serving in

the military, paying taxes, and voting.

Inclusive citizenship laws tend to

foster economic development

Citizenship and

Growth

Patrick Amir Imam and Kangni Kpodar

ART: ISTOCK/ELENABS