Africa’s place in the global economy is undergoing important restructuring. Deep global integration in some places and sectors coexists with increased or persisting marginalization in others: a globalized dualism on the continent. What are the terms and conditions of inclusion and exclusion in global value chains? What are the nature of investment opportunities and how are their rewards distributed? How are the necessary technologies and knowledge being generated and reconfigured?
Africa’s place in the global economy is undergoing important restructuring. Deep global integration in some places and sectors coexists with increased or persisting marginalization in others; a globalized dualism on the continent. What are the terms and conditions of inclusion and exclusion in global value chains? What are the nature of investment opportunities and how are their rewards distributed? How are the necessary technologies and knowledge being reconfigured? The papers in this panel will interrogate these questions in order to assess Africa’s changing position in the global economy. In particular the papers will examine (1) the patterns of adoption of information and communication technologies in Africa (interested presenter: Pádraig Carmody, Trinity College, Dublin); (2) the changing configuration of key global value chains originating from selected African countries (Stefano Ponte, Danish Institute for International Studies); (3) increased Chinese interest and presence in the continent (Giles Mohan, Open University); and (4) the emerging role of South African MNCs in the rest of Africa (Andrea Goldstein, OECD).
