Africa’s path to prosperity lies not in ideology, bluster, or revolutionary slogans, but in the hard, often overlooked grind of raising productivity. As Nobel laureate Paul Krugman noted, productivity is key to improving living standards. Côte d’Ivoire’s focused reforms boosted industrial output and halved poverty in less than a decade. In contrast, Cameroon, where productivity stagnated, has seen little economic progress. Yet many African leaders continue to seek shortcuts—nationalizing assets, pressuring banks, or invoking anti-imperialist rhetoric—such as instead of doing the hard work of reform. The enduring appeal of figures like Thomas Sankara reflects a romanticized economic vision, but history proves there’s no replacement for long-term, pragmatic policymaking rooted in productivity gains.
Source: SEMAFOR
