Greening African Economic Development

Far too often, the needs of productive transformation and industrialization are presented in opposition to the need for decarbonization. Oqubay argues persuasively that bringing the two together is not just necessary but also possible, through a pragmatic strategy for energy security, industrial capability, and competitive advantage. Assessments of specific sectoral pathways in different countries in Africa highlight the importance of aligning policy across industrial hubs and enterprises (including farms) - an insight that is relevant for many other regions of the developing world. * Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst *
I have always been of the opinion that we never had an economic miracle in Mauritius. The economy grew through strategic decisions being taken and in a close partnership with the private sector. The manufacturing sector has been instrumental in creating jobs and prosperity. Arkebe Oqubay reframes the question of how Africa has been industrializing while decarbonizing. He draws his conclusions from original primary fieldwork across several economies including Mauritius. He also discusses and challenges the usefulness of the concepts of "just transition" and the "energy transition" frameworks for Africa. His analysis deepens our appreciationunderstanding of the manufacturing and industrial landscapes with the understanding that a green and productive Africa is within reach. * Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius (2015-2018) *
This book addresses a major challenge for Africa, namely achieving both industrializing and greening. Written by a global authority on this issue, it looks at six strategic sectors in five countries of Ethiopia, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. Its key argument is that such transformation should be pursued through context-specific and divergent national and sectoral pathways * Keun Lee, Distinguished Professor (emeritus), Seoul National University; Winner of Schumpeter Prize (2014) *
It is my great pleasure to endorse Greening African Economic Development by Arkebe Oqubay. Industrialization is the core of Africas structural transformation to boost productivity, raise incomes and eradicate poverty, yet it must advance alongside economic greening and decarbonization. Backed by in-depth African country and sector research, this book abandons the outdated "grow first, clean later" model. It illustrates how aligned policies, industrial clusters, and capable firms can integrate industrial growth and green transition. Packed with practical insights, this valuable work offers vital guidance for Africa to pursue inclusive, low-carbon, and sustainable development. * Justin Yifu Lin, Dean, Institute of New Structural Economics, Peking University, and Former Chief Economist and Sr. Vice President, World Bank *
A bold and vital book. It rejects the false choice between industrializing and decarbonizing, showing that African economies can - and must - do both at once. Drawing on original fieldwork across five economies and six strategic sectors, Dr. Oqubay dismantles the imported orthodoxies of "just transition" and "energy transition" and replaces them with something far more useful: a theory of green productive transformation grounded in the developmental role of the state, courageous industrial policy, and the strategic alignment of firms, industrial hubs, and government. It reframes how we think about late development in a warming world - essential reading for anyone serious about shaping economies to be sustainable and inclusive. * Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value, University College London *
Can Africa's economies advance a successful green transition while also raising well-being and life opportunities for the continent's people? In Greening African Economic Development, Arkebe Oqubay draws on his decades of experience as both a researcher and policymaker to show how both these ends can be accomplished. Oqubay's writing is, at once, rigorous, lucid, visionary and fully grounded in Africa's reality today. This book is a major contribution that should quickly become a standard reference. * Robert Pollin, Distinguished University Professor of Economics and Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst *
No book makes a better case for green industrialization in Africa. Building on detailed case studies from around the continent and challenging conventional wisdom from all sides of the development debate, Arkebe Oqubay shows how carbon-neutral growth is not just an imperative but a viable path forward with the right set of policies. * Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University *
Few books on African development combine theoretical ambition and empirical grounding. This one does both. Drawing from structural transformation theory, evolutionary economics, and the political economy of late development, it constructs a framework capable of addressing the dual challenge of industrialization and decarbonization. Sector-level case studies illuminate pathways that are contingent on the national context rather than reducible to universal prescriptions. Its concluding critique of prevailing just transition frameworks, argued with clarity and intellectual honesty, exposes their limits for Africa's green development. This is a book that development economists, industrial policy scholars, and African policymakers have long needed. * Youba Sokona, Executive Director, African Institute for Sustainable Energy and System Analysis and Former IPCC Vice-Chair and IPCC WGIII Co-Chair *
Oqubay brings his vast experience as a political leader, policy maker, and scholar to the challenge of economic development in African countries. He is deeply familiar with past cases of development across several continents. Many African countries are relatively late starters: previous development paths will not work without modification. Development is a multi-decade process. Sustainability of the growth models is crucial. Oqubay argues persuasively that integrated development strategies for African countries need to be supported by industrial policies with a heavy focus on energy, on efficiency, and green energy. The industry case studies amply support the argument. It is a brave and useful contribution to unlocking African countries' enormous potential. * Michael Spence, Dean Emeritus. Stanford Business School; Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Nobel Prize in Economics 2001 *