Made in Africa: Industrial Policy in Ethiopia

Synopsis

Made in Africa provides new evidence and arguments that will help readers to understand the realities of, and prospects for, an 'African Renaissance'. It draws on original research by a senior government official with direct policy experience in the field into the performance of three sectors in Ethiopia: cement, leather, and flowers. The design and practice of industrial policy is explored, as are the reasons for different policy outcomes in the threesectors. Also examined are the industrial structures and global value chains in associated industries in order to demonstrate the challenges African firms face in international markets. The book emphasizes thevalue of learning from failures and from successes, and challenges conventional wisdom among economists and international organizations, including those recently claiming to champion a 'new industrial policy'. If African countries are to achieve sustained increases in living standards, they must expand manufacturing. To achieve this, a more interventionist state is needed than is generally accepted by development economists.