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The instability and informality that characterize hybrid political orders and its effects on entrepreneurs remains largely unexplored in the scholarly literatures. In this paper we provide initial findings from the case of entrepreneurs' access to electricity in Lebanon. Using quantitative and qualitative methods we find that political connections significantly influence the investment decisions of entrepreneurs and the performance of their firms. In general, a hybrid political order imposes a 'tax' on entrepreneurship by channelling entrepreneurial talent into lobbying and bribery; by reinforcing male and family-owned dominance in business; and by skewing investment decisions. Specifically, we find that family firms whose entrepreneurs engage in bribery, and who obtain government contracts alleviate electricity problems and perform better.

We use a modified gravity model to estimate the relationship between trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). We find evidence of a significant causal relationship from SADC's exports to inward FDI. Distance (reflecting remoteness and transport costs) and political instability are confirmed to be significant determinants of FDI to SADC. We discern differences in the patterns and determinants of FDI to SADC, whether it is from the USA and UK or from continental Europe. In the case of FDI to SADC from the USA and UK, it is exports from SADC to these countries that are significant, and not imports, while, in the case of continental Europe, both exports and imports are significantly associated with FDI to SADC.

In august 2006 the south african government announced quotas on the imports of clothing and textile products from china. Three questions arise. What are these expected benefits? what will be the most likely impact of the import quotas on the south african economy? and what are the policy implications? in this paper we answer these questions by using a computable general equilibrium (cge) model. We find that, contrary to the motivations apparently underlying the quota implementation, the macro-economic, sector and household effects are negative and result in greater inequality between poorer and richer households. We refer to modeling results elsewhere in the literature which report results consistent to ours. The policy implications are that the imposition of these quotas could come to be seen as a policy mistake, and that south africa may benefit more from considering a free trade agreement with china.