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Why Africa’s development model puzzles economists

Why Africa’s development model puzzles economists

In 1954 Arthur Lewis, a Nobel prize-winning economist, argued that development occurs as labour shifts from an unproductive “traditional” sector—activities such as subsistence farming, or petty trade—into modern, capitalist activities. Research by Margaret McMillan, of Tufts University, and Dani Rodrik, of Harvard, investigates how far Africa has followed this pattern. They distinguish two traditions of thinking about growth. One focuses on raising labour productivity within sectors of the economy, by adding capital or improving skills and technology. The other stresses structural change, as workers move between sectors. –The Economist/

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Maybe the problem with development in Africa is not Africa but rather the development theory…How can there only be two ways of looking at development? Sounds more like the imperialism of (Western) social sciences exerting its influence to confuse and distort development possibilities for African nations -shout out to Claude Ake.

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