Emerging Issues in Contemporary African Economies by Onyeiwu, S.;

Short description:

Onyeiwu focuses on how events of the twenty-first century are shaping key sectors of African economies and societies. He suggests that, compared to East Asia and Latin America, Africa still has a long way to go, despite recent improvements in performance.

Long description:

Onyeiwu focuses on how events of the twenty-first century are shaping key sectors of African economies and societies. He suggests that, compared to East Asia and Latin America, Africa still has a long way to go, despite recent improvements in performance.

"Onyeiwu has written an important book that captures the complexity and diversity of Africa while identifying some common lessons for development policy. Unlike other approaches, Onyeiwu's evolutionary framework stresses the importance of contingency, path dependence, and institution building. If the countries of Africa heed Onyeiwu's advice and learn from past mistakes and successes the continent's future can be a bright one." - John Gowdy, Professor of Economics and Administrative Head of the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA

"Using an evolutionary analysis backed by solid empirical evidence, Onyeiwu painstakingly dissects one of the most fundamental questions on Africa today, which is whether the recent growth spurt in the continent can be sustained. The book meets the expectations of both experienced social scientists interested in Africa as well as readers seeking a friendly yet intellectually sound introduction to Africa's past, recent, and prospective economic development. It is a unique resource for teaching African development." - Léonce Ndikumana, Professor and Director of the African Development Policy Program, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA

"Onyeiwu has produced a general survey text that treats the myriad economic experiences of African nations in the twenty-first century for use in American colleges and universities. His work offers a refreshing counterbalance to works such as those of George Ayittey and William Easterly, because it is built on a premise that one is obliged to search for the strands of success that exist and search for possibilities for greater success amongst the rubble of failures that are strewn along the historical tracks of post-colonial Africa. In documenting and exploring contemporary Africa's economic experiences Onyeiwu details the failures endured, but he, like the students he has had enrolled in his courses, is not content to dwell solely on the facts and data of poor economic performances across Africa. Building on successful classroom outcomes he has developed a text of materials that should prove useful in teaching economic and policy analysis to inquisitive university students in the second decade of the twenty-first century." - Oscar T. Brookins, Professor, Northeastern University, USA

"Africa of the 2000s is indeed quite different from Africa of the 1980s and 1990s. Not only has there been strong growth resurgence but also human development has improved and poverty has fallen. But will the progress continue? The present book effectively attempts to answer this critical question by first arming the reader with a comprehensive historical background and then facing the emerging issues head-on. Thus the book fills an important void and is a must-read for all interested in the progress of African economies." - Augustin K. Fosu, Professor, University of Ghana; Extraordinary Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa; and CSAE Research Associate, University of Oxford, UK

Table of Contents:

Introducing Africa 1. How New is the "New Africa"? 2. Renaissance or Mirage: Can Growth in Africa Be Sustained? 3. Growth, Employment and Poverty 4. Industrial Performance and Prospects of Structural Transformation 5. Regionalism and Industrial Development 6. Innovation, Technology, and Structural Transformation 7. Information and Communication Technologies 8. Aid, Debt, and Foreign Direct Investment 9. Gender, Youth, and Sustainable Development 10. Closing the Performance Gap in Africa