African Economic Development: Evidence, Theory, Policy"This book challenges conventional wisdoms about economic performance and possible policies for economic development in African countries. Its starting point is the striking variation in African economic performance. Unevenness and inequalities form a central fact of African economic experiences. The authors highlight not only differences between countries, but also variations within countries, differences often organized around distinctions of gender, class, and ethnic identity. For example, neo-natal mortality and school dropout have been reduced, particularly for some classes of women in some areas of Africa. Horticultural and agribusiness exports have grown far more rapidly in some countries than in others. These variations (and many others) point to opportunities for changing performance, reducing inequalities, learning from other policy experiences, and escaping the ties of structure, and the legacies of a colonial past. The book rejects teleological illusions and Eurocentric prejudice, but it does pay close attention to the results of policy in more industrialized parts of the world. Seeing the contradictions of capitalism for what they are - fundamental and enduring - may help policy officials protect themselves against the misleading idea that development can be expected to be a smooth, linear process, or that it would be were certain impediments suddenly removed. The authors criticize a wide range of orthodox and heterodox economists, especially for their cavalier attitude to evidence. Drawing on their own decades of research and policy experience, they combine careful use of available evidence from a range of African countries with political economy insights (mainly derived from Kalecki, Kaldor and Hischman) to make the policy case for specific types of public sector investment"-- |
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African Economic Development: Evidence, Theory, Policy Christopher Cramer,John Sender,Arkebe Oqubay Limited preview - 2020 |
African Economic Development: Evidence, Theory, Policy Christopher Cramer,John Sender,Arkebe Oqubay Limited preview - 2020 |
Common terms and phrases
activities African countries agricultural analysis areas argue arguments balance capital capitalist cent Chapter commodity comparative costs Cramer demand developing countries Development discussed domestic economic economic development economists effects employment especially estimates Ethiopia evidence example exchange experience exports extremely farmers farms Figure firms foreign forms global growth higher households ideas important improve income increase industrial institutions International interventions investment Journal labour lead less live London Management manufacturing measures officials Organization output Oxford political poor poverty production promote rapid recent reduce relatively Research Retrieved Review rising rural sector Sender share social Source South Africa South Korea statistical strategy structural Studies sub-Saharan Africa surveys sustained theory trade trends Uganda University Press urban wage Washington women workers World Bank
Bibliographic information
| Title | African Economic Development: Evidence, Theory, Policy Online access: OAPEN DOAB Directory of Open Access Books |
| Authors | Christopher Cramer, John Sender, Arkebe Oqubay |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, 2020 |
| ISBN | 0198832338, 9780198832331 |
| Length | 319 pages |
| Subjects | › › Business & Economics / Development / Economic Development Social Science / Developing & Emerging Countries |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |