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Economic Structure, Growth, and Evolution of Inequality and Poverty in Africa: An Overview

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  • Augustin Kwasi Fosu
Abstract
Is Africa experiencing a growth ‘miracle’? Rodrik (2018) seems sceptical, and provides evidence based on modern growth theory to support the scepticism: the recent relatively impressive growth does not seem sustainable. Related to the issue of sustainability is economic structure. Diao et al. (2018) find that accompanying the recent growth record has been improving agricultural labour productivity, a reduction of the agricultural labour share and increasing manufacturing employment, evidence that is consistent with that observed for industrialised economies. Thorbecke and Ouyang (2018) also find that while the efficacy of translating growth into poverty reduction remains lower for Africa than elsewhere, there is evidence of poverty convergence recently in Africa, contrary to that for developing countries generally. Fosu (2018) observes the dominant importance, on average, of growth for poverty reduction in Africa, but also underscores the critical role of inequality, especially for certain countries. Exploring why inequality is particularly high in Africa, Shimeles and Nabassaga (2018) uncover ethnic fractionalisation, limited tertiary education, and poor governance as major culprits, and inequality of opportunity as the dominant component. Bigsten (2018) identifies the dual-economy nature of colonial arrangements as the genesis for Africa’s high inequality, and proposes an enhanced pro-poor Lewis-type modern-sector enlargement as a potential solution.

Suggested Citation

  • Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2018. "Economic Structure, Growth, and Evolution of Inequality and Poverty in Africa: An Overview," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 1-9.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:27:y:2018:i:1:p:1-9.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2010. "Inequality, Income, and Poverty: Comparative Global Evidence," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1432-1446, December.
    2. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2010. "Inequality, Income, and Poverty: Comparative Global Evidence," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(s1), pages 1432-1446.
    3. Dollar, David & Kraay, Aart, 2002. "Growth Is Good for the Poor," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 195-225, September.
    4. Dani Rodrik, 2018. "An African Growth Miracle?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 10-27.
    5. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2018. "The Recent Growth Resurgence in Africa and Poverty Reduction: The Context and Evidence," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 92-107.
    6. Fosu, Augustin Kwasi, 2017. "Growth, inequality, and poverty reduction in developing countries: Recent global evidence," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 306-336.
    7. Louise Fox & Ana Maria Oviedo, 2013. "Institutions and Job Growth in African Manufacturing: Does Employment Protection Regulation Matter?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 22(4), pages 616-650, August.
    8. Martin Ravallion, 2012. "Why Don't We See Poverty Convergence?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(1), pages 504-523, February.
    9. World Bank, 2017. "World Development Indicators 2017," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 26447.
    10. World Bank, 2015. "World Development Indicators 2015," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 21634.
    11. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2015. "Growth, Inequality and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Progress in a Global Context," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 44-59, March.
    12. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2009. "Inequality and the Impact of Growth on Poverty: Comparative Evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(5), pages 726-745.
    13. Erik Thorbecke, 2013. "The Interrelationship Linking Growth, Inequality and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 22(suppl_1), pages -48, January.
    14. Xinshen Diao & Margaret McMillan & Samuel Wangwe, 2018. "Agricultural Labour Productivity and Industrialisation: Lessons for Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 28-65.
    15. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2013. "Impact Of The Global Financial And Economic Crisis On Development: Whither Africa?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(8), pages 1085-1104, November.
    16. Abebe Shimeles & Tiguene Nabassaga, 2018. "Why Is Inequality High in Africa?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 108-126.
    17. Arne Bigsten, 2018. "Determinants of the Evolution of Inequality in Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 127-148.
    18. repec:oup:jafrec:v:22:y:2013:i:4:p:-522 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2010. "Inequality, Income, and Poverty: Comparative Global Evidence," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1432-1446, December.
    20. Erik Thorbecke & Yusi Ouyang, 2018. "Is the Structure of Growth Different in Sub-Saharan Africa?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 66-91.
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    2. Owusu, Solomon, 2021. "Powering structural transformation and productivity gains in Africa: The role of global value chains and resource endowments," MERIT Working Papers 2021-022, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    3. Obadiah Jonathan Gimba & Mehdi Seraj & Huseyin Ozdeser, 2021. "What drives income inequality in sub‐Saharan Africa and its sub‐regions? An examination of long‐run and short‐run effects," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(4), pages 729-741, December.
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    5. Ofori, Isaac K. & Dossou, Marcel A.M. & Asongu, Simplice A. & Armah, Mark K., 2023. "Bridging Africa’s income inequality gap: How relevant is China’s outward FDI to Africa?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    6. Ongo Nkoa Bruno Emmanuel & Song Jacques Simon & Balla Mekongo Célestin Ghislain, 2021. "Inequalities in Africa : Does financial integration matter?," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(3), pages 1983-1993.
    7. Simplice A. Asongu & Jean R. F. K. Bouanza & Armand F. Akpa, 2024. "Governance and Structural Transformation in Africa: Thresholds of Lifelong Gender Inclusive Education," Working Papers of The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA). 24/010, The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA).
    8. Chenghong Xu & Mingming Han & Toyo Amegnonna Marcel Dossou & Festus Victor Bekun, 2021. "Trade openness, FDI, and income inequality: Evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(1), pages 193-203, March.
    9. Augustin Kwasi Fosu, 2020. "Democracy and Development in Africa," Working Papers 202026, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    10. Onesmus Mbaabu Mutiiria & Qingjiang Ju & Koffi Dumor, 2020. "Infrastructure and inclusive growth in sub-Saharan Africa: An empirical analysis," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 20(3), pages 187-207, July.

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