Building Economic Complexity in Africa

Haroon Bhorat, Christopher Rooney and Francois Steenkamp

Working Papers from University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit

Abstract: This paper provides a synthesis of four country case studies on Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa. These studies examine structural change through the lens of economic complexity, and provide policy options through which these countries can achieve structural change that expands the economic opportunities for disenfranchised women and youth.3 The common objectives across these four studies is as follows: First, to examine the degree and extent of economic complexity of the country in question. Second, to undertake a detailed product space analysis. Third, use economic complexity and product space analytics to identify potential avenues for economic diversification or frontier products. Fourth, through the use of firm interviews, to identify the constraints that prevent, and the capabilities that enable, firms to diversify into these frontier products. Fifth, examine the employment potential associated with these frontier products. And finally, to provide a set of policy options that would facilitate this process of complexity building structural change.

Keywords: Economic complexity; economic development; Africa Rising; structural transformation; women; youth; employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 39 pages
Date: 2019-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-isf
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in Working Paper Series by the Development Policy Research Unit, December 2019, pages 1-39

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https://commerce.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/con ... PRU%2520WP201906.pdf First version, 2019 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Building Economic Complexity in Africa (2019)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctw:wpaper:201906

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