Edited by Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, Roland Bénabou and Dilip Mookherjee. Understanding poverty and what to do about it, is perhaps…
Browsing: Book Reviews
This book offers a comprehensive, research-driven analysis of the persistent economic underdevelopment in Africa, with Nigeria as a central case study. It argues that Nigeria’s failure to achieve sustained growth stems from weak social institutions, corrupt governance, and mismanagement of resources—issues common across the continent, though shaped by local contexts. The book contrasts these challenges with successful development strategies in Southeast Asia, emphasizing the importance of foundational institutions.
Early chapters trace Nigeria’s institutional decline since independence, highlighting systemic barriers to progress despite abundant natural and human resources. Later sections critique widely accepted growth models—especially the overreliance on foreign direct investment—as ineffective for nations lacking a solid economic base. Instead, the book advocates for development strategies grounded in proven, context-sensitive frameworks.
Intended for readers interested in global development, the book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and organizations working to promote sustainable growth in Africa.
By Leonce Ndikumana and James Boyce. In Africa’s Odious Debts, James Boyce and Léonce Ndikumana reveal the shocking fact that,…
Sean S. Costigan. Reviewed by Andrew Whiting. This book consists of a series of chapters covering a multitude of different…
David Gold and Sean S. Costigan. Reviewed by James Boswell. Today, no single issue dominates the global political landscape as…
By Robert Rotberg. Reviewed by Thomas Sanders. Although Afghanistan and Iraq are at the epicenter of America’s war on terror,…
By Todd I. Moss. Reviewed by Peter Lewis. Africa presents some of the greatest challenges of economic development in the…
By Mahamudu Bawumia. Reviewed by Christian Kitenge Moembo Kingombe. A very lucid account and assessment of the monetary policy and…
DAN G. COX. There is a flourishing and growing debate among political scientists regarding the links between democracy/democratization and…
By John Davies. Abject poverty and official corruption make parts of Africa a very attractive destination for terrorist organizations. Opportunities…
By Alex Perry. Reviewed by Peter Collins. The Search for Boko Haram is compelling and unsentimental in its deconstruction of…