About this Book

This volume presents policy- oriented papers, development projections, and proposals of how to overcome African countries' dependence on few primary commodities. To escape the primary commodity trap and to diversify into new products and markets is a major challenge for African countries. It has become much more difficult for African countries to diversify into new products and processes and to enter new niche markets successfully. The book discusses the state of primary commodity dependence of African countries by analytical surveys based on examples of countries, sectors and products. Options for diversification are analyzed, and supply and demand side constraints for successful diversification efforts are elaborated. Successful cases of diversification are presented, possibilities to improve the position are outlined, and options for primary commodity producers to use their resources are discussed for the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Karl Wohlmuth is professor at the University of Bremen (Germany). Philippe Burger is a research fellow at the Department of Economics, University of the Free State (South Africa). Achim Gutowski teaches at the University of Bremen and Hochschule Bremen (Germany). Mohammed N. Hussain is acting manager at the research division of the African Development Bank, Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire). Tobias Knedlik is a research associate at the Halle Institut for Economic Research (Germany). Mareike Meyn is a research fellow at the Institute for World Economics and International Management, University of Bremen (Germany).