How Africa Works
Success and Failure on the World's Last Developmental Frontier
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- USD 16.99
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- USD 16.99
Descripción editorial
“[O]ne of the most original and important books on Africa in years.”—Financial Times
“Challenges outdated narratives and makes a compelling case for the continent's economic potential.”—Bill Gates
The acclaimed author of How Asia Works brings his “pithy, well-written and intellectually vigorous” (Financial Times) reporting to Africa, revealing essential, promising lessons about the engines of economic growth across the continent
The culmination of twenty years spent studying Asian economics, Joe Studwell’s celebrated How Asia Works revealed the key policies behind the meteoric growth of the “Asian tigers.” The question he kept hearing from those inspired by his clear-eyed understanding of global development: what about Africa? He was finally convinced to investigate further when the inquiries began coming from Africans themselves. A decade of research, travel and on-the-ground reporting began.
Studwell expected that Africa’s challenging geography and its crippling legacies of colonialism would necessitate a unique developmental recipe. Yet to his astonishment, the African countries that succeeded did so by embracing the very same strategies their Asian counterparts had—strategies that are far different from those foisted on Africa by the international community. He explores these winning policies via four countries that have seen exceptional economic growth (Botswana, Mauritius, Ethiopia and Rwanda) and that demonstrate both the promise and the particular challenge of the African context. Highlighting the achievements of local leaders, Studwell argues that prosperity is well within reach and that the rapidly rising population—seen as alarming by so many—will be foundational to Africa’s flourishing. How Africa Works is essential, optimistic reading for anyone looking to understand the next chapter of global development.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Africa can achieve sustainable economic growth if governments there boost agriculture and manufacturing while avoiding political upheavals and war, according to this sweeping analysis. Journalist Studwell (How Asia Works) ascribes Africa's poverty to chronic underpopulation and European colonial rule. Thanks to booming, better-educated populations, however, African economies are now poised to take off, he argues, provided governments follow the development playbook of Asian countries like South Korea and China. The key measures, he contends, are supporting small-scale farming with land redistribution and credit for seeds and fertilizers; making targeted investments in export-oriented manufacturing that fosters industrial ecosystems; and building infrastructure. Studwell reports on the growing economies of such African countries as Mauritius, Botswana, and Ethiopia. Drawing on World Bank statistics and his own reportage on innovative farmers and dynamic manufacturing start-ups, Studwell paints richly detailed portraits of African economies and takes an optimistic stance on the continent's future, which isn't always convincing, given sub-Saharan Africa as a whole is economically stagnant (it was slightly poorer in 2024 than in 2014 on a per-capita GDP basis). Still, Studwell is worth reading for his fine-grained insights into African politics and economies.
