Creating productive jobs for growing a labor force is both one of the world’s greatest challenges as well as one of its greatest economic opportunities, and one of the most consequential global megatrends. Nowhere is the job creation challenge more acute than for young people in Africa.
In response to this challenge and to also address Africa’s structural economic transformation, the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings has undertaken research on the prospects for large-scale job creation through the development of “industries without smokestacks” including tourism, agro-processing, horticulture, and services that has revealed a promising path forward.
This book is the first to document the potential for non-traditional industries to address the formal sector job creation that is critical for Africa to simultaneously harness its demographic dividend and achieve structural transformation. In the face of premature deindustrialization, many economists have voiced pessimism about Africa’s ability to replicate past economic development models. The book also documents the potential of an alternative economic development model for Africa based on industries without smokestacks. Finally, the book suggests practical policy solutions to realize the potential of these industries.
Contents
- From Deindustrialization to Job Creation: New Perspectives on African Growth
Chris Heitzig, Richard Newfarmer, and John Page - Opportunities for Youth Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress and Prospects
Louise Fox and Dhruv Ghandi - Rwanda: Harnessing the Power of the Next Generation
Richard Newfarmer and Anna Twum - Uganda: Leaving Agriculture in Search of Progress on Transformation
Madina Guloba, Medard Kakuru, Jakob Rauschendorfer, and Sarah Ssewanyana - Ethiopia: Building on Manufacturing Momentum to Create New Jobs in Other Sectors
Tsegay Gebrekidan Tekleselassie - Senegal: Overcoming Stagnant Industrialization with New Sources of Job Creation
Ahmadou Aly Mbaye, Fatou Gueye, Assane Beye, Abdou Khadir Dia, and Massaer Mbaye - Ghana: Beyond Jobless Growth to Productive Employment
Ernest Aryeetey, Priscilla Twumasi, and Festus Ebo Turkson - Kenya: Linking Manufacturing and Industries without Smokestacks to Drive Transformation
Boaz Munga, Eldah Onsomu, Nancy Laibuni, Humphrey Njogu, Adan Shibia, and Samantha Luseno - Zambia: From Mineral Dependence to Skill Development in New Sectors
Anand Rajaram, Dennis Chiwele, and Mwanda Phiri - South Africa: In Search of an Employment Escape to a Growth Path
Caitlin Allen, Zaakhir Asmal, Haroon Bhorat, Robert Hill, Jabulile Monnakgotla, Morne Oosthuizen, and Christopher Rooney - Policies to Create Productive Jobs in Africa: Unleashing Industries without Smokestacks
Chris Heitzig, Richard Newfarmer, and John Page
Authors
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