WEST AFRICA REVIEW ISSN: 1525-4488

Dal Didia

After reading through this book, the first thing that came to my mind was – what a timely effort. The editor has put together a first rate contemporary book on African economic development. The book is quite comprehensive in its approach to the treatment of development issues facing Africa. It covers a broad range of topics at the level that academicians, public officials, and students alike can relate to. I find the style and substance of this text quite appealing. Issues and methods that serve only to confuse readers without contributing substantially to the subject are minimized. The relating of theory to practical experience will also distinguish this book from existing textbooks.

The subject of African Development is treated in twenty-three chapters, organized in six parts. Part I covers “Introduction to Africa and African Economic Development.” In this part, Professor Nnadozie treats such issues as – why study African development and definition and measurement of growth and development. Part II of the book takes on “Africa’s Characteristics and Development Challenges.” Topics covered here include “Geo-Economy and History,” “Engines of Growth and Africa’s Economic Performance,” “Population,” and “Poverty and Economic Development.” In summary, parts I and II set the stage and context for the rest of the book. Part III tackles “Critical Issues” that must be addressed before any meaningful development can begin. In other words, this part of the book addresses what one may refer to as prerequisites of economic development. These prerequisites or critical issues include “Implications of Ethnic Diversity,” “Health and Economic Development,” “Education,” “Democracy and Development,” “Political Instability,” “Inequality and Conflict,” and “Corruption and Economic Development.” Sector Analysis is taken up in Part IV. Such issues as “Land Tenure, Agriculture, and Economic Development,” “Financial Markets and Economic Development,” “Saving, Investment, and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa,” are given a marvelous treatment by the authors. Overall, Part IV brings into perspective the role of the different sectors in economic development.

While Parts I – IV can be seen as an exploration of internal factors, Part V seeks to incorporate external or international influences on development. This section deals with the issue of globalization and its implications for Africa’s development. From the performance of East Asian economies, the new paradigm in economic development emphasizes openness and interaction with other economies. Consequently, topics on information and communication technologies, regionalism, globalization, and trade, as they relate to economic development, are given the necessary attention in this section. Finally, Part VI takes on “Development Challenges, Policies, and Strategies.”

In all the chapters, unnecessary esoteric treatment of issues characteristic of some academic journals, that serve only to distract rather than add to the substance of the subject matter, are avoided or reduced to a minimum. Take for instance, chapter 12 on Political Instability by Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong. In this chapter, Gyimah-Brempong attempts to address the question – how does political instability affect economic development? As the author clearly points out, this is no easy question to answer since there may be a simultaneous relationship at work here. It is almost like the “chicken-and-egg question” – which came first? Is political instability spurred by lack of economic development or is the lack of economic progress spurring political instability? This chapter is particularly insightful because in many African countries like Nigeria, political instability via military coups, seem to be singled out as the most important culprit in the economic stagnation of the country. Gyimah-Brempong uses a time-series cross-national data, a mix of econometric techniques such as simultaneous equations model, and a dynamic panel estimation method to explore the impact of political instability on economic development. Addressing the issue of simultaneity with these models allows Gyimah-Brempong to explore the direction of causation. This represents a major improvement over previous studies where single equation models are employed. Gyima-Brempong carefully confirms that political instability negatively affects economic development directly and indirectly through a reduction in capital formation, just as slow or lack of economic growth can lead to political instability. So, in effect, there is a two-way relationship involving political instability and economic development. Despite the use of fairly complicated econometric techniques, the results are explained in very plain language.

John J. Quinn handles a similarly perplexing issue – democracy and development – in chapter 11. Again, we face something similar to the “chicken-and-egg’ question. Does democracy lead to economic development or is it the other way around? This is the fundamental question that Quinn struggles to address. Given the new wave of democratization all over the world, and especially in developing countries, the new paradigm now seems to be: “seek first the democracy kingdom, and all else, including economic development, shall be added.” The empirical evidence in Africa does not lead Quinn to any definite answer except that “the evidence supports both sides” (232, 254).  This result should not be entirely surprising because there are countries all over the world that have achieved remarkable economic progress under authoritarian regimes. The People’s Republic of China is recording phenomenal economic growth without democracy. Similarly, countries like Chile and South Korea recorded enviable economic growth rates under military dictatorships. Many African countries are democratizing with mixed results as far as the dividends of democracy are concerned. Even though the evidence supports both sides, Quinn states without hesitation, that dictatorships in Africa have not resulted in any significant sustainable development. As one reads through the chapter, Quinn’s struggle with this issue becomes quite apparent. In the final analysis, Quinn seems to come down in support of democratization as he states that in the long run, democracies will probably be more developed than non-democracies, and that “all developing countries will, one day, be democratic” (254).  

The editor, Professor Emmanuel Nnadozie should be commended for the painstaking effort it must have taken to assemble such a wide array of experts on various areas pertaining to Africa’s development issues. Many of the authors (for instance, E. Wayne Nafziger, John Mbaku, Marcel Fafchamps, James Duesenberry, Paul Collier, Jacob Adetunji, and Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong) are well known for their work in this area, and some have written best selling college textbooks on economics of developing countries. The assemblage of authors from academia, multilateral institutions engaged in day-to-day issues of development in Africa such as the World Bank, and agencies such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Center for the Study of African Economies at Oxford University, clearly indicates that the editor wanted a resource that would be accessible and useful to anyone interested in African development. The depth and breadth of topics covered show a superb understanding of the pressing issues, and the coverage is so comprehensive that one may be tempted to suggest another title to the book – “An Encyclopedia of African Development”.

One omission, which the editor may consider if there is plan for future work in this area, is the implication of natural resource exploitation on economic development in Africa. It is a well-known fact that Africa serves as a source of raw materials for rich developed nations. As a matter of fact, Africa’s international trade consists mainly of export of primary raw materials with minimal value-added. Some of these natural resources, like tropical forests, are on the verge of being depleted, according to reports from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Resources Institute.  Africa also serves as a source of rare and precious metals used in such things as nuclear technology. These resources are currently over-exploited, and the environmental degradation is causing untold hardship on the inhabitants of these regions. A question that needs to be addressed is how all this will impact future development in Africa.

The omission alluded to above should not take anything away from such an impressive effort. It is a comprehensive and well-written textbook on African development. And it is quite refreshing that this book takes a holistic approach to economic development; unlike many development textbooks, this book examines African economic development in the context of political and institutional frameworks.  The impact of the historical realities and the geography of the African continent on African economic development are also given considerable recognition. The book is bold not only in identifying factors responsible for Africa’s underdevelopment but in proffering solutions without the usual hedging or hesitation common in academic papers. It addresses clearly issues such as why Africa is underdeveloped and why African development is unique and may not follow exactly the same path as other continents. The role of African governments and their relationship with richer countries is equally recognized as fundamentally strategic in economic development. The book concludes, however, by indicating that there is no panacea for Africa’s underdevelopment. Rather, the solution, in a nutshell, calls for increased pragmatism, responsible leadership, investment in human capital and infrastructure, and more equitable relations with the international community. In the final analysis, this book is an impressive accomplishment which should serve all those involved one way or another in seeking to understand and proffer solutions to Africa’s economic development issues.

Copyright © 2004 Africa Resource Center, Inc.

Citation Format

West Africa Review: Issue 5, 2004