Chapter 22: Restarting and Sustaining Growth and Development^☆

This chapter examines how growth and development can be restarted and sustained in Sub-Saharan Africa (hereafter Africa). Though this matter has been extensively examined, we revisit it because even with major attempts at adjustment, most African countries cannot sustain the reforms needed to grow and develop.¹

Policy reversals and economic retrogression have been the norm. Massive foreign assistance has done little to change this. Perhaps it never could, given the inconsistent conditions and shifting agendas of the donor community. But, foreign assistance can make a difference—as it has in many Asian countries—when African governments are committed to reform (Burnside & Dollar, 2000; Tsikata, 1998).