The book examines the complex relationships between infrastructure and the rest of the economy. In particular, it focuses on the contentious issue of whether infrastructure investments stimulate productivity growth, issues of pricing and ownership, and also development problems such as environmental damage. Methods range from traditional production function models and compensating variation approaches to nonlinear methods of dynamic analysis. There is a unique emphasis on the ability of these different methods to allow for the complex interdependencies involved. Six of the fifteen papers deal with these methodological aspects, whereas the remainder addresses specific cases or examples in a variety of countries (Europe, USA and developing countries).

This accessible, comprehensive and pertinent Handbook will be of interest to academics, researchers and students working in the fields of international politics, in particular political economy and foreign policy, and the economics of trade.¾ Practitio

This book provides a thorough and rigorous discussion on the impact of trade liberalisation on economic development with a special focus on the African continent. The author presents the rationale for trade liberalisation, trade liberalisation frameworks, the trade liberalisation economic development nexus, impediments to trade, and contemporary issues of international trade. In this book, notwithstanding the benefits from trade liberalisation, the author shows that African trade as a share of global trade has remained flat at 3% as in 1975, while the continent’s exports have remained raw materials and its intra-regional trade at less than 15% of total trade, which is the lowest in the world (UNCTAD, 2020). With respect to key economic development indicators such as economic growth, poverty levels, and employment levels, this book shows that, ironically and in direct contrast with the conventional views that trade liberalisation alleviates poverty, trade liberalisation in Africa has resulted in high levels of unemployment and low economic growth which ultimately lead to increased poverty. In addition, this book provides a detailed analysis of why trade liberalisation has failed to yield meaningful benefits to Africa. The binding constraints and blockages which prevent positive spin-offs on trade liberalisation in Africa are discussed in detail in this book. In the same vein, the author provides practical strategies which must be adopted by African countries in order to gain from trade liberalisation, making this work a must-read for African governments, academia, trade experts, regional trading blocs, the World Trade Organization, and development partners. In view of this, and as part of the disruptive and structural transformation policies, the author discusses case studies and international experience contextualised to Africa as well as strategies for addressing the trade-related infrastructure gap, production capacities, export promotion, and aid for trade.

Niger is a landlocked country situated in West Africa. It is bordered by many countries including Nigeria to the south, Mali and Burkina Faso to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north, and Chad to the east. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with a predominantly rural population of approximately 21 million people. It has a diverse ethnic population consisting of Hausa, Zarma, Tuareg, and Kanuri among others. French is the official language of the country, but other languages such as Hausa and Zarma are also widely spoken. Niger's economy is mainly based on agriculture with approximately 80% of the population employed in farming. It is a major exporter of uranium which contributes significantly to the country's economy. However, Niger is faced with many challenges including poverty, drought, food insecurity, and political instability. It is also one of the countries at high risk of climate change and environmental degradation. Despite these challenges, Niger has made some progress in terms of development with improvements in healthcare and education. However, more needs to be done to improve the country's economy and to provide basic services to its people.

Industrialization supported by industrial hubs has been widely associated with structural transformation and catch-up. But while the direct economic benefits of industrial hubs are significant, their value lies first and foremost in their contribution as incubators of industrialization, production and technological capability, and innovation. The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Hubs and Economic Development adopts an interdisciplinary approach to examine the conceptual underpinnings, review empirical evidence of regions and economies, and extract pertinent lessons for policy reasearchers and practitioners on the key drivers of success and failure for industrial hubs. This Handbook illustrates the diverse and complex nature of industrial hubs and shows how they promote industrialization, economic structural transformation, and technological catch-up. It explores the implications of emerging issues and trends such as environmental protection and sustainability, technological advancement, shifts in the global economy, and urbanization.

Business Innovation driven by the advancement of technology has dramatically changed the business landscape over recent years, not only in advanced countries but also in emerging markets. It is expected that business innovation could help achieve economic inclusion, which has been a global initiative over the last decade, creating opportunities for all people to benefit from the economic development. These proceedings provide an outlet for discussing the importance of business innovation, especially in emerging countries in helping to reach inclusive economies. The papers cover the subject areas management, accounting, finance, economics and social sciences.

As one reviewer noted, this book fills a huge void in the literature and provides a single, rich and comprehensive source for the framework to analyzing the major impediments for export sector to contribute to the development and growth of countries in Africa and other developing regions. The editors are the lead figures at the AERC.

The Development Co-operation Report, issued by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), is the key annual reference document for statistics and analysis on the latest trends in international aid.