Douglas Zhihua Zeng (eds.): Knowledge, Technology, and Cluster-Based Growth in Africa.

Fatima, Nishat

Douglas Zhihua Zeng (eds.) Knowledge, Technology, and Cluster-Based Growth in Africa: Washington, DC: The World Bank. 2008. 130 pages. Hardback. Price not given.

This book gives an insightful knowledge of the forming and evolution of enterprise clusters in Africa, and the contribution of knowledge, human capital and technology in their success. These clusters are groups of firms engaged in related economic activities (upgrading the diversity and sophistication of their business activities), which help in augmenting national productivity. They grow and compete by diffusing knowledge and technological know-how in a more effective way. They provide jobs for the continent's growing population, thus enabling the poor families not only to survive, but also to educate their children and, eventually, bringing them out of the poverty trap.

The book contains 11 case studies of African economies. The evidence has been gathered through surveys and field visits, with a focus on knowledge, technology, and policy. They attract a great deal of attention of development economists, as each study comprehensively takes into account the respective economy by giving the cluster profile, mode of their networking and ultimately stating policies and incentives. However, some of the policy implications drawn from these cases are by no means uniformly applicable across regions, and more research is required to make their operation consequential.