African Economic Development

Sub-Saharan Africa is at a turning point. The barriers to economic growth seen in the 1980–2000 era are disappearing and new optimism is spreading. However, difficult goals of eliminating poverty, achieving equity and overcoming environmental threats continue. This much-needed and insightful textbook has been written to help us understand this combination of emerging improvements and significant challenges.

Opening with an analysis of the main theories relating to development in Sub-Saharan Africa, the book explores all the key issues, including:

• Human development;
• Rapid urbanization;
• Structural and gender dimensions;
• Sustainable development and environmental issues; and
• Africa’s role in the world economy.

The authors use economic tools and concepts throughout, in a way that make them accessible to students without an economics background. Readers are also aided with a wide range of case studies, on-the-ground examples and statistical information, which provide a detailed analysis of each topic. This text is also accompanied by a comprehensive companion website, featuring additional sources for students and instructors.

African Economic Development is a clear and comprehensive textbook suitable for courses on African economic development, development economics, African studies and development studies.

Steven Langdon was appointed Adjunct Professor in his former Economics Department at Carleton University in 2014, where he teaches a course on African Economic Development with Professors Ritter and Samy. Langdon has completed research, directed projects and taught advanced courses in 24 Sub-Saharan countries, from Senegal to South Africa, Tanzania to Ghana, Nigeria to Mozambique.

Archibald R. M. Ritter is a Distinguished Research Professor of Economics and International Affairs at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. He has lived and worked in Kenya and Tanzania and taught at the University of Liberia as well as the University of Havana.

Yiagadeesen Samy is currently the Director and a Full Professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. He has published widely on trade and labor standards, fragile states, foreign aid, taxation and income inequality, and his research in the past few years has focused on Sub-Saharan Africa.