On the Structural Transformation of Rural Africa

24 Pages Posted: 11 Jan 2017

See all articles by Christopher B. Barrett

Christopher B. Barrett

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management

Luc Christiaensen

World Bank

Megan Britney Sheahan

Precision Agriculture for Developmen

Abebe Shimeles

Göteborg University

Date Written: January 10, 2017

Abstract

From 2000 to 2014, per capita gross domestic product in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by almost 35 percent in real terms, doubling in some countries. Such progress happened while agricultural productivity growth remained low in the aggregate, despite some bright spots, and poverty reduction was steady but discouragingly slow. This paper argues that ending extreme poverty will require structural change in agriculture, and in rural African economies more broadly. Drawing on a range of recent research, the paper outlines broad priority areas for policy actions to accelerate productivity and initiate structural change in the agriculture sector and the rural nonfarm economy.

Suggested Citation

Barrett, Christopher B. and Christiaensen, Luc and Sheahan, Megan Britney and Shimeles, Abebe, On the Structural Transformation of Rural Africa (January 10, 2017). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 7938, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2897224

Christopher B. Barrett (Contact Author)

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management ( email )

315 Warren Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-7801
United States
607-255-4489 (Phone)
607-255-9984 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://aem.cornell.edu/faculty_sites/cbb2/

Luc Christiaensen

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Megan Britney Sheahan

Precision Agriculture for Developmen ( email )

United States

Abebe Shimeles

Göteborg University ( email )

Viktoriagatan 30
Göteborg, 405 30
Sweden

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