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Building knowledge economies in Africa: an introduction

Author

Listed:
  • Simplice A. Asongu
  • John Kuada

Abstract

Knowledge has emerged as a fundamental driver of economic growth and development by inter alia improving the effectiveness and efficiency of economic projects and boosting the process of finding new avenues of addressing developmental policy syndromes. Recent evidence suggests that Africa is on the threshold of significant and sustainable economic growth if its human and material resources can be effectively mobilised to support the process (Asongu & Tchamyou, 2019; Kuada & Mensah, 2018). Consequently, the World Bank’s Knowledge Economy Framework aims to explore and support the extent to which current policies in African countries affect the knowledge development process (and thereby competitiveness) on the continent. A knowledge economy is an economy in which economic prosperity largely depends on the accessibility, quality and quantity of information available, instead of the means of production (Asongu, 2017a, 2017b). This themed issue of Contemporary Social Science-‘Building Knowledge Economies in Africa’ – consists of papers that focus on, but are not limited to, the four dimensions of the World Bank’s Knowledge Economy Index. These are: information and communication technology, education, economic incentives and institutional regime, and innovation (Tchamyou, 2017). The themed issue engages with high quality contributions which, taken together, address the drivers towards knowledge-based economies. This introduction provides a context for understanding the importance of building knowledge economies in Africa and summarises the main contributions to the themed issue. The paper ends by advising scholars and policy makers regarding the risks associated with a colonial view of knowledge- notably the importance of proposing knowledge-based policies while avoiding hegemonic paradigms and hierarchical constructs. In summary, the issue consists of a set of theoretically informed, empirically robust, policy-relevant and accessible articles for both specialists and non-specialists.

Suggested Citation

  • Simplice A. Asongu & John Kuada, 2020. "Building knowledge economies in Africa: an introduction," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 1-6, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocxx:v:15:y:2020:i:1:p:1-6
    DOI: 10.1080/21582041.2020.1722213
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "The Effects of Mobile Phone Technology, Knowledge Creation and Diffusion on Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(3), pages 1367-1398, September.
    2. Tra Lam Pham & Thi Kim Thoa Dau & Phuoc Bao An Nguyen, 2025. "The Structural Model of Software Adoption and Organizational Performance: Innovation Acceptance Perspective," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(6), pages 18388-18423, December.
    3. Simplice A. Asongu & Raufhon Salahodjaev, 2023. "Demand-Side Mobile Money Drivers of Financial Inclusion: Minimum Economic Growth Thresholds for Mobile Money Innovations," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(4), pages 4848-4865, December.
    4. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2022. "The of role economic growth in modulating mobile connectivity dynamics for financial inclusion in developing countries," Working Papers 22/013, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    5. Jean‐Claude Mousseuknadji Kouladoum & Sylvaniste Etsiba & Serge Monglengar Nandingar & Jacques Hakizimana, 2025. "Environmental quality in Africa and infrastructure development: The mediating impact of the knowledge economy," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 2696-2713, April.
    6. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2022. "The Role Of Economic Growth In Modulating Mobile Connectivity Dynamics For Financial Inclusion In Developing Countries," World Affairs, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 185(3), pages 530-556, September.
    7. Muneera Al-Qahtani & Mariem Fekih Zguir & Ibrahim Ari & Muammer Koç, 2022. "Female Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Economy and Development—Challenges, Drivers, and Suggested Policies for Resource-Rich Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-39, October.
    8. Oliinyk Olena & Bilan Yuriy & Mishchuk Halyna, 2021. "Knowledge Management and Economic Growth: The Assessment of Links and Determinants of Regulation," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Paradigm, vol. 29(3), pages 20-39, September.
    9. Asongu, Simplice & Odhiambo, Nicholas, 2020. "Social Media and Inclusive Human Development in Africa," MPRA Paper 103149, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Joy V. Nyondo & Patrício V. Langa, 2021. "Emerging Research University in Africa: Divergent Views on Relevance and Experiences," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 1, pages 237-256.
    11. Yasmeen Ansari & Mansour Saleh Albarrak & Noorjahan Sherfudeen & Arfia Aman, 2022. "A Study of Financial Literacy of Investors—A Bibliometric Analysis," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-16, May.
    12. João M. Lopes & Luis Filipe Silva & Ilda Massano-Cardoso & Ana Galhardo, 2025. "Running Towards a Better Brand Attitude: How Gamification in Nike Run Club Can Help?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(4), pages 15427-15455, October.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries

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