There is growing consensus in the literature that trade and trade policy matter for a pro-poor growth and development strategy. Therefore, policies that are consistent with this strategy feature increasingly in many African countries where poverty is endemic and rapid and where sustainable economic growth is viewed as the major vehicle for poverty reduction. Key elements of these polices include measures that promote the expansion and diversification of production and trade in Africa. This book is aimed at articulating appropriate structural and policy measures for eliminating the constraints that African countries face and thus ensuring that they can derive maximum benefits from all available market access opportunities.

There is evidence that most African countries face external market access barriers in their major export destinations which are generally less constraining than those confronting countries in other developing country regions. Yet, they have generally not been able to take full advantage of the special (preferential) market access opportunities available to them. This suggests that improved external market access, whether reciprocal or preferential, would not, by itself, be sufficient for strengthening African export performance. In this collection, export supply response capacity takes external (beyond-the-border) factors as given and concentrates primarily on the internal (behind-the-border) factors that influence production and distribution costs and, thus, competitiveness.

The central working hypothesis of this book is that the inability of domestic producers and exporters in Africa to respond quickly, effectively and efficiently to external market access opportunities is caused by various limitations of their internal supply capacity and that this, in turn, is largely responsible for the lacklustre export performance of many African countries. This comprehensive study should be of interest to students and researchers of international trade and development economics as well as African studies.

There is growing consensus in the literature that trade and trade policy matter for a pro-poor growth and development strategy. Therefore, policies that are consistent with this strategy feature increasingly in many African countries where poverty is endemic and rapid and where sustainable economic growth is viewed as the major vehicle for poverty reduction. Key elements of these polices include measures that promote the expansion and diversification of production and trade in Africa. This book is aimed at articulating appropriate structural and policy measures for eliminating the constraints that African countries face and thus ensuring that they can derive maximum benefits from all available market access opportunities. There is evidence that most African countries face external market access barriers in their major export destinations which are generally less constraining than those confronting countries in other developing country regions. Yet, they have generally not been able to take full advantage of the special (preferential) market access opportunities available to them. This suggests that improved external market access, whether reciprocal or preferential, would not, by itself, be sufficient for strengthening African export performance. In this collection, export supply response capacity takes external (beyond-the-border) factors as given and concentrates primarily on the internal (behind-the-border) factors that influence production and distribution costs and, thus, competitiveness. The central working hypothesis of this book is that the inability of domestic producers and exporters in Africa to respond quickly, effectively and efficiently to external market access opportunities is caused by various limitations of their internal supply capacity and that this, in turn, is largely responsible for the lacklustre export performance of many African countries. This comprehensive study should be of interest to students and researchers of international trade and development economics as well as African studies.

An authoritative guide to Africa's economic development and prospects. This is volume 4 in a major international research project coordinated by the African Economic Research Consortium and bringing together the top academics in development economics, trade policy and international economics from Africa, Europe and North America. This fourth volume draws upon the theoretical framework and detailed studies of both individual countries and regional schemes of the previous three books to present an analysis of Africa's prospects for economic development, regional integration and co-operation and her changing place in the world economy today.

An authoritative guide to Africa's economic development and prospects. This is volume 4 in a major international research project coordinated by the African Economic Research Consortium and bringing together the top academics in development economics, trade policy and international economics from Africa, Europe and North America. This fourth volume draws upon the theoretical framework and detailed studies of both individual countries and regional schemes of the previous three books to present an analysis of Africa's prospects for economic development, regional integration and co-operation and her changing place in the world economy today.

An authoritative guide to Africa's economic development and prospects. This is volume 3 in a major international research project coordinated by the African Economic Research Consortium and bringing together the top academics in development economics, trade policy and international economics from Africa, Europe and North America. This third volume examines schemes for regional integration, and the successes and failure of each of these specific projects to examine the potential and pitfalls facing co-operation and integration in Africa today.

An authoritative guide to Africa's economic development and prospects. This is volume 2 in a major international research project coordinated by the African Economic Research Consortium and bringing together the top academics in development economics, trade policy and international economics from Africa, Europe and North America. This second volume applies the theoretical framework and issues of economic liberalization and regional integration to detailed country case studies of the Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

An authoritative guide to Africa's economic development and prospects. This is volume 2 in a major international research project coordinated by the African Economic Research Consortium and bringing together the top academics in development economics, trade policy and international economics from Africa, Europe and North America. This second volume applies the theoretical framework and issues of economic liberalization and regional integration to detailed country case studies of the Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

An authoritative guide to Africa's economic development and prospects. This is volume 3 in a major international research project coordinated by the African Economic Research Consortium and bringing together the top academics in development economics, trade policy and international economics from Africa, Europe and North America. This third volume examines schemes for regional integration, and the successes and failure of each of these specific projects to examine the potential and pitfalls facing co-operation and integration in Africa today.

Papers on regional integration and trade liberalisation in sub-Saharan Africa meant to apply new perspectives and approaches to an analytical framework and methodology for study of the region. The collaborative chapters are written by economists within and outside the region of sub-Saharan Africa who have specialized in international and trade economics. It creates a background for the next three volumes: Vol. 2: country studies, Vol. 3: regional studies and Vol. 4: syntheses written by leading international economists which concludes lessons as well as looks to the future.

Papers on regional integration and trade liberalisation in sub-Saharan Africa meant to apply new perspectives and approaches to an analytical framework and methodology for study of the region. The collaborative chapters are written by economists within and outside the region of sub-Saharan Africa who have specialized in international and trade economics. It creates a background for the next three volumes: Vol. 2: country studies, Vol. 3: regional studies and Vol. 4: syntheses written by leading international economists which concludes lessons as well as looks to the future.