To understand why Africa remains poor or is not growing as fast as it could economically, we need to study the impact of politics and culture on economic activity in the continent. This will tell us more about underdevelopment than straight economic analysis focusing on such matters as macroeconomic management and international trade relations, writes Tunde Obadina.

Imagine that it is May 25, 2063, the 100th anniversary of Africa Day, a day for reflecting on Africa’s successes and failures. The newspaper headline announces, “Last Remaining Oilfield in West Africa’s American Territory Dries Up.”

Agricultural development in Africa is caught in a long-running ideological conflict between advocates of Green Revolution in the continent and those who believe such a technological approach to be inappropriate and potentially harmful, explain Ravinder Rena

Micrifinace is a powerful tool for development, write Sultan Rehman Sherief and S. Tameem Sharief. They compare experiences across Africa with those in India, and identify the difficulties and challenges faced by microfinance institutions that may guide public policy in the sector.

Ethiopia needs to invest more on manufacturing its own goods. The country has the resources to achieve this. What is lacking is the political will, argues Eleni Agiz.

Nigeria's economy is characterised by the paradox of poverty in the midst of abundance. Sa’idu Sulaiman outlines some measures for change to increase output and alleviate poverty in the country.

To accelerate economic development in rural areas, it is necessary to promote entrepreneurship, argues Sultan Rehman Sherief.  Entrepreneurial orientation in rural areas is based on stimulating local entrepreneurial talent and subsequent growth of indigenous companies.

The Nigerian government recently signed a debt agreement with the Paris Club which will write off $18 billion of Nigeria's external debt for payment of $12 billion. Ike Nnedu explains why this deal may not be in Nigeria's interest.

Africa's poverty has become an international cause celebre, a major focus of attention of good-hearted men and women who want heal the continent's problems and make the suffering go away. Should Africans be thankful for this?

OPEC oil production quotas constrain the development of Nigeria's petroleum industry. So should the country quit the cartel? Mobolaji E. Aluko calls for imaginative and strategic re-thinking in this crucial sector.