Fixing African Economies:

When African countries embarked on the first round of structural adjustments in the 1980s and 1990s, there was little opportunity to first determine what programs would work where—instead, governments reluctantly implemented policies that were imposed by international financial institutions and based on theoretical models. The ensuing process was eventful—and the results checkered.

Now, however, it is possible to learn from a decade of research on the actual impacts of economic policy changes. The authors of this book report on programs across Africa, focusing on the research/policy connection in the context of measurable results. Their challenging goal is to contribute to the design and implementation of more productive, more equitable development strategies.