Figure 5: Literate Population (%) by Province, 1990 and 2000 80 70 Percent 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Central Copperbelt Eastern Luapula Lusaka Northern NorthWestern Southern Western 1990 56.2 69.9 37.7 49.4 68.6 47.5 42.4 56.5 48.1 2000 55.8 70.5 37.9 48.4 70.1 47 43.4 56.2 50.6 Source: CSO, Census of Population and Housing2000 THE ECONOMY 16. The Zambian economy is a third world economy heavily dependent on copper and cobalt mining. Copper and other metal exports account for about 75 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. 17. Zambia’s economic policy regimes can be divided into four main broad periods. These are: (a) Free Market Policies (1964-1972); during this period, the Government pursued liberal economic and political policies, with little or no state controls, while placing focus on provision of infrastructure and services. High and rising copper export earnings boosted the economy’s capital stock. (b) State Control (1973-1984); by the mid 1970s, Zambia was largely a public sector led economy with excessive controls, parastatal 27