Working Paper: NBER ID: w28603
Authors: Soeren J. Henn; James A. Robinson
Abstract: Despite the past centuries’ economic setbacks and challenges, are there reasons for optimism about Africa's economic prospects? We provide a conceptual framework and empirical evidence that show how the nature of African society has led to three sets of unrecognized “latent assets.” First, success in African society is talent driven and Africa has experienced high levels of perceived and actual social mobility. A society where talented individuals rise to the top and optimism prevails is an excellent basis for entrepreneurship and innovation. Second, Africans, like westerners who built the world's most successful effective states, are highly skeptical of authority and attuned to the abuse of power. We argue that these attitudes can be a critical basis for building better institutions. Third, Africa is “cosmopolitan.” Africans are the most multilingual people in the world, have high levels of religious tolerance, and are welcoming to strangers. The experience of navigating cultural and linguistic diversity sets Africans up for success in a globalized world.
Keywords: Africa; economic prospects; latent assets; social mobility; institutional development
JEL Codes: H11; J6; O1; O11
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| high levels of perceived and actual social mobility (J62) | increased entrepreneurship and innovation (O35) |
| skepticism of authority (D73) | better governance (H11) |
| cultural cosmopolitanism (F01) | success in a globalized economy (F69) |