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Building Knowledge Economies in Africa: An Introduction

Author

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  • Simplice A. Asongu

    (Yaounde, Cameroon)

  • John Kuada

    (Aalborg University, Denmark)

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 (Kuada & Mensah, 2017; Asongu & Tchamyou, 2019). 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," Research Africa Network Working Papers 20/002, Research Africa Network (RAN).
  • Handle: RePEc:abh:wpaper:20/002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Asongu, Simplice A. & Nwachukwu, Jacinta C., 2018. "Educational quality thresholds in the diffusion of knowledge with mobile phones for inclusive human development in sub-Saharan Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 164-172.
    2. Simplice A. Asongu & Vanessa S. Tchamyou, 2019. "Foreign Aid, Education and Lifelong Learning in Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(1), pages 126-146, March.
    3. Vanessa Simen Tchamyou, 2020. "Education, lifelong learning, inequality and financial access: evidence from African countries," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 7-25, January.
    4. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2020. "Remittances, the diffusion of information and industrialisation in Africa," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 98-117, January.
    5. Vanessa S. Tchamyou & Simplice A. Asongu, 2017. "Information Sharing and Financial Sector Development in Africa," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 24-49, January.
    6. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2019. "Challenges of Doing Business in Africa: A Systematic Review," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 259-268, April.
    7. Simplice A. Asongu, 2017. "The Comparative Economics of Knowledge Economy in Africa: Policy Benchmarks, Syndromes, and Implications," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 8(2), pages 596-637, June.
    8. Meniago, Christelle & Asongu, Simplice A., 2018. "Revisiting the finance-inequality nexus in a panel of African countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 399-419.
    9. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2020. "Building Knowledge-Based Economies in Africa: A Systematic Review of Policies and Strategies," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(4), pages 1538-1555, December.
    10. Simplice A. Asongu, 2017. "Knowledge Economy Gaps, Policy Syndromes, and Catch-Up Strategies: Fresh South Korean Lessons to Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 8(1), pages 211-253, March.
    11. Vanessa S. Tchamyou & Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2019. "The Role of ICT in Modulating the Effect of Education and Lifelong Learning on Income Inequality and Economic Growth in Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 31(3), pages 261-274, September.
    12. Simplice A. Asongu & Vanessa S. Tchamyou, 2020. "Human capital, knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion, institutions and economic incentives: South Korea versus Africa," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 26-47, January.
    13. Boateng, Agyenim & Asongu, Simplice & Akamavi, Raphael & Tchamyou, Vanessa, 2018. "Information asymmetry and market power in the African banking industry," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 69-83.
    14. Jeremiah O. Ejemeyovwi & Evans S. Osabuohien, 2020. "Investigating the relevance of mobile technology adoption on inclusive growth in West Africa," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 48-61, January.
    15. Tchamyou, Vanessa S. & Erreygers, Guido & Cassimon, Danny, 2019. "Inequality, ICT and financial access in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 169-184.
    16. Stephen Oluwatobi & Isaiah Olurinola & Philip Alege & Adeyemi Ogundipe, 2020. "Knowledge-driven economic growth: the case of Sub-Saharan Africa," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 62-81, January.
    17. Karakara, Alhassan A. & Osabuohien, Evans S., 2019. "Households' ICT access and bank patronage in West Africa: Empirical insights from Burkina Faso and Ghana," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 116-125.
    18. Vanessa Simen Tchamyou, 2017. "The Role of Knowledge Economy in African Business," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 8(4), pages 1189-1228, December.
    19. Vanessa S. Tchamyou, 2019. "The Role of Information Sharing in Modulating the Effect of Financial Access on Inequality," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 317-338, July.
    20. Simplice A. Asongu & Jacinta C. Nwachukwu, 2017. "The Comparative Inclusive Human Development of Globalisation in Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 1027-1050, December.
    21. Fofack, Hippolyte, 2014. "The idea of economic development: Views from Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 093, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    22. Amavilah, Voxi & Asongu, Simplice A. & Andrés, Antonio R., 2017. "Effects of globalization on peace and stability: Implications for governance and the knowledge economy of African countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 91-103.
    23. Simplice A. Asongu & Paul N. Acha-Anyi, 2020. "A survey on the Washington Consensus and the Beijing Model: reconciling development perspectives," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 67(2), pages 111-129, June.
    24. Asongu, Simplice A. & Biekpe, Nicholas, 2018. "ICT, information asymmetry and market power in African banking industry," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 518-531.
    25. Simplice A. Asongu & Jules R. Minkoua N., 2018. "Dynamic openness and finance in Africa," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 409-430, May.
    26. Petrakis, P. E. & Stamatakis, D., 2002. "Growth and educational levels: a comparative analysis," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 513-521, October.
    27. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Osabutey, Ellis L.C. & Egbetokun, Abiodun, 2018. "Contemporary challenges and opportunities of doing business in Africa: The emerging roles and effects of technologies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 171-174.
    28. Elizabeth Asiedu, 2014. "Does Foreign Aid In Education Promote Economic Growth? Evidence From Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 16(1), pages 37-59.
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    Cited by:

    1. Asongu, Simplice & Odhiambo, Nicholas, 2020. "Social Media and Inclusive Human Development in Africa," MPRA Paper 103149, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. 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.
    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 of the African Governance and Development Institute. 22/013, African Governance and Development Institute..
    5. 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.
    6. 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, Sciendo, vol. 29(3), pages 20-39, September.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Knowledge economy; Development; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    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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