How Africa Works: Success and Failure on the World's Last Developmental Frontier

Joe Studwell, author of the acclaimed How Asia Works, applies his research on global development to Africa. After a decade of research, travel, and reporting across the continent, Studwell investigates what drives economic growth in African nations. Studwell initially expected Africa's geography and colonial legacies would require a distinct developmental approach. Instead, he found that successful African countries employed the same strategies that drove growth in Asian economies—strategies that differ significantly from those promoted by the international community. Through examination of four countries with exceptional economic growth—Botswana, Mauritius, Ethiopia, and Rwanda—Studwell identifies winning policies and highlights the role of local leadership. He argues that prosperity is achievable for the continent and that Africa's rapidly rising population represents an asset rather than a liability for future development.