Employment, poverty, and inclusive development in Africa: policy choices in the context of widespread informality

By James Heintz on May 11, 2010

This book chapter is part of "The Political Economy of Africa" - a book which addresses the real possibilities for African development in the coming decades when seen in the light of the continent’s economic performance over the last half-century. This involves an effort to emancipate our thinking from the grip of western economic models that have often ignored Africa’s diversity in their rush to peddle simple nostrums of dubious merit. The book addresses the seemingly intractable economic problems of the African continent, and traces their origins. It also brings out the instances of successful economic change, and the possibilities for economic revival and renewal. As well as surveying the variety of contemporary situations, the text will provide readers with a firm grasp of the historical background to the topic. It explores issues such as:

• employment and poverty
• social policy and security
• structural adjustment programs and neo-liberal globalization
• majority rule and democratization
• taxation and resource mobilization.

It contains a selection of country specific case studies from a range of international contributors, many of whom have lived and worked in Africa.

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