What explains economic underdevelopment in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Author
Louis, Jean-Jacques
Date
2015-12Advisor
Looney, Robert
Second Reader
Halladay, Carolyn
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This thesis examines the causes of slow economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, it attempts to identify the links between economic growth and the dual-economic system that exists in most African countries. In doing so, the thesis argues that, without inclusive efforts to lift national or regional economies as one package, the problem with slow growth will persist. In the past, much effort has been oriented toward developing African capitalist economies by focusing on the modern sector while the indigenous or traditional economy that has sustained Africans for generations has been ignored. The main finding of the thesis is that the traditional sector appears to be rejecting any attempts to be conquered by a foreign capitalist system; at the same time, however, traditional economies have not had a good track record for attracting economic growth. In order to grow economies in Africa, the gap between the formal and informal economies will have to be reduced.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
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