The central theme of this book “Growth and Development in West Africa” may seem commonplace and pedestrian because it has been widely studied and debated. However, the subject remains relevant because of the complex and ambiguous nature of the concepts of growth and development. Past analyses of the themes in general focused more on the economic factors with a special emphasis on macro-economic data.
Yet in developing countries like those in West Africa, data on macro-economic indicators are rare, deficient and often, of poor quality. Even when they exist and are of good quality, they are not sufficient to explain the determinants of growth and development in the region.
That is the reason why this book proposes a new reading grid focusing on a multidisciplinary approach that holistically involves economic, environmental, social and political factors. The analysis of the sources of growth and development through the combination of these various factors constitutes the major plank of this work.
By focusing on these factors, this book highlights some of the fundamental needs of the structural transformation of the West African economies.