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I would like to thank Prof. Barbara Fritz, my PhD dissertation’s first supervisor, for her continuous support during this research project. Her valuable technical and practical advice allowed me during these last four years to develop my research question and analyze it with coherence and detail. This dissertation also benefited from discussions with my second supervisor, Prof. Sebastian Dullien, and the numerous comments and questions received from the attendants of the economics colloquium of the Institute for Latin-American Studies. However, the usual disclaimer applies. This means that despite the advice received, some errors might remain and are my own responsibility. I am particularly grateful to Prof. Jan Priewe who offered me in 2009 to coordinate the DAAD partnership on economic development studies at the HTW Berlin, University of Applied Sciences. My participation in this partnership allowed me not only to finance my stay in Berlin during my dissertation period, but also to interact with a network of economics professors and students from around the developing world, many of which shared similar research interests with me. I would also like to thank my wife Clayré for her emotional support during this marathon-like endeavor. Last but not least, I use these lines to express my gratitude towards my parents who taught me how to enjoy life