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Beitrag vom 17.11.2014
The Legatum Institute, London
The 2014 Africa Prosperity Report
As African economies grow, a chief concern for many governments is how to ensure that the fruits of growth benefit a majority of the population and contribute to true long term prosperity. Poor infrastructure, weak governance, unfriendly business climates, inadequate healthcare, and safety and security concerns are some of the challenges mentioned that may hinder long term development and prosperity.
Some have used these challenges to question, with good reason, the "Africa Rising†narrative that has dominated much of the comment and analysis about the continent in recent years. What these challenges reveal is that this narrative has been constructed predominantly on the basis of economic growth while ignoring many other vital foundations of prosperity.
The Africa Prosperity Report provides a comprehensive view of what's happening in Africa beyond traditional economic indicators. It considers a broad set of indicators that tell us not only how nations perform economically but in vital areas such as education, governance, heath, safety and security, and more.
The Africa Prosperity Report shows that African nations have made progress over the last three years. In particular, African nations are performing well in the Personal Freedom, Economy and Entrepreneurship & Opportunity sub-indices.
Serious weaknesses persist, however, in the areas of Education, Health, and Safety & Security. There is however, some cause for optimism as the Prosperity Index shows that since 2012, six out of the top 10 most-improved countries in the world on the Health sub-index are in Africa.
The poor performance in measures of education is a major impediment to Africa's future growth. The correlation between education and employment is well known and failing to provide future generations with the right skills will result in large inequalities and reduced economic growth. The safety and security challenges still dominate the landscape of many African nations and the Africa Prosperity Report reveals not only that many African countries perform very poorly in this area but that they are getting worse.
Strong economic performance in recent years suggests that many African nations are on the right track. However, with a large part of the population living on less than two dollars a day, most Africans don't appear to be benefiting from the current economic boom. African leaders need to empower disadvantaged groups such as women, the youth, and the poor to enable them to engage economically and to be a part of Africa's growth.
This report examines in detail three distinct groups of people who are often identified as drivers of African prosperity. They are: the well-educated; female entrepreneurs; and the middle class.
Starting with education, it is widely recognised that education plays a critical role in empowering people and increasing the
Introductionpotential for citizens to contribute economically and politically. While African governments spend a relatively high share of GDP on education, the outcomes are disappointing. Increasing enrolment rates is an important goal for improving Africa's future but there must also be a focus on the quality of education, particularly that which teaches useful employment skills.
These issues are discussed in the first chapter by examining firstly the education system in Tanzania followed by two case studies that explore how technology and indigenous knowledge might support and foster education improvement and prosperity.
As demonstrated by a vast body of literature, entrepreneurship is critical for growth and prosperity. However, African nations are not realising their potential since a large proportion of human capital is under-used. Across the continent, women's contributions to business need to be unlocked in order to release female human capital that could revolutionise the African labour market and the wider business environment. Female entrepreneurs are constrained by a variety of factors including social prejudice, poor access to education, limited access to finance, and exclusion from business networks.
In the second chapter, we explore the gender imbalance in African entrepreneurship caused by the many impediments that prevent women from becoming entrepreneurs. This chapter also includes two case studies that analyse the impact of the Arab Spring on female business activities in Egypt as well as the state of Rwanda's business environment for women.
Finally, the report considers the middle class, which, as a group, is considered worldwide to be a driver of prosperity. Although the precise definition of the middle class in Africa remains an ongoing discussion, one thing is clear: its number has increased sharply in recent years due to the fast pace of economic growth. The private sector's expansion has been critical in supporting the middle class' emergence since they tend to be entrepreneurs or employed in stable jobs. The link between the middle class and prosperity is not, however, limited to monetary issues. As discussed in the third chapter and in particular in Professor Ncube's special feature, the middle class, by asking for more accountability and transparency from governments, better education, and a more business-friendly environment, is an emerging new social group with its own features that could play a vital role in shaping the continent's future prosperity.
With a large part of the population living on less than two dollars a day, "Africa rising†is not a reality for most Africans. By supporting education quality, female entrepreneurship, and the rising middle class, African countries could avoid a future where inequality and chronic poverty persist in the midst of wealth and prosperity. In turn, this will empower disadvantaged groups that have been left out of the current economic boom, raising personal and national wellbeing.
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