There is a broad consensus amongst development specialist that in order to grow and develop, African countries need to industrialise; and at a greater rate than they are doing at present. In searching for the reasons for the disappointing industrial progress so far, observers have tended to take a broad look at the industrial sector as a whole. The work reported in this volume takes a different approach. It sets out from the premise that two industries - clothing and footwear - offer excellent starter opportunities for baseline industrial growth. Garments and footwear are low-tech industries in so far that use stable, well-diffused technology. They generate only low-level research and development needs, require only basic skills, and operate on low economies of scale, whilst having the capacity to absorb large numbers of semi-skilled workers and make extensive use of local resources. Additionally they offer considerable export potential. This collection of papers focuses on the changing role and potential of the clothing and footwear sectors in industrialisation in Africa. The examples elucidated are the clothing and footwear sectors in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. Taken together, these four countries provide a representative cross sector of African countries and present a range of different issues relating to the continent's clothing and footwear economy. More generally, the volume seeks to contribute to a greater appreciation of the impacts of globalisation on industrial development trajectories.

In one of the first analyses of contemporary IndianAfrican relations, this detailed book draws upon a collection of case studies that explore interrelated topics such as trade, investment, development aid, civil society relations, security, and geopolitics. While China's relationship to Africa has been thoroughly examined, knowledge and analysis of India's role in Africa has until now been limited. This book fills the gap and compares and contrasts India to China s role as a rising global power in the African continent. "

Originally published in 2005. This book examines how regional industries use different networks on various geographical scales in order to withstand increasing competition in a globalising world. It argues that new forms of global governance of networked industries are emerging, in particular in those areas that have only recently been incorporated into the global economy such as Eastern Europe, Asia and Southern Africa. The book addresses a number of issues, including the different forms of institutional arrangements that contribute to the formation of heterogeneous global industrial networks. It also raises the issue of national institutions that still matter in network formation. The focus of the book is on how to improve regional and sectoral competitiveness in a global context and it suggests this is best achieved by a close analysis of global linkages, an evolutionary perspective on processes taking place, and a more differentiated view on globalisation.

Have you ever stopped and wondered where your jeans came from? Who made them and where? Ever wondered where they end up after you donate them for recycling? Following a pair of jeans, Clothing Poverty takes the reader on a vivid around-the-world tour to reveal how clothes are manufactured and retailed, bringing to light how fast fashion and recycling are interconnected. Andrew Brooks shows how recycled clothes are traded across continents, uncovers how retailers and international charities are embroiled in commodity chains which perpetuate poverty, and exposes the hidden trade networks which transect the globe. In this new and updated edition, Brooks retraces his steps to look at the fashion industry today, and considers how, if at all, the industry has changed in response to mounting consumer pressure for more ethical clothing. Stitching together rich narratives, from Mozambican markets, Nigerian smugglers and Chinese factories to London’s vintage clothing scene, TOMS shoes and Vivienne Westwood’s ethical fashion lines, Brooks uncovers the many hidden sides of fashion.

South Africa’s high rate of unemployment (26.4%) makes it a complete outlier compared with other middle-income countries. Indeed, the unemployment rate rises to 36% if discouraged workers are taken into account. It underpins extreme poverty and inequality and is a major contributor to social dislocation. If it were not for increased social payments, poverty would have continued to increase since the advent of democracy in 1994. Unemployment also represents a huge cost to growth. This book focuses on the growth path of the economy. The starting point is that while more rapid economic expansion is an important objective, at any given level of growth, the economy as a whole needs to become more labour-absorbing. The central question posed is how to bring about changes in the economic structure and pattern of development, which would lead to the attainment of this objective. The authors argue that employment needs to be much more centrally positioned within the economic and social policy arena. They emphasise innovative approaches within a broader focus on the growth path, and employment-intensive growth. And they posit that the negative impact of previous ‘distortions’ requires much more than a levelling of the playing field via market-based reforms. Apart from presenting an alternative growth path which could start to shift the economy in new directions, the book tackles themes which have received only limited attention, such as wage subsidies, youth unemployment and employment growth in rural areas.

Africa is on the move, demonstrating in recent years a significant potential for economic growth. Although the region still faces many challenges, it is also generating pockets of economic vitality in the form of enterprise clusters that are contributing to national, regional, and local productivity. Through case examples from Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, this book provides an understanding of how these dynamic enterprise clusters were formed and have evolved, and how knowledge, human capital, and technology have contributed to their success.