Africa's Population: In Search of a Demographic Dividend - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3319468871 ISBN 13: 9783319468877

Publisher: Springer, 2017

Synopsis

This book examines the promises as well as the challenges the demographic dividend brings to sub-Saharan Africa as fertility rates in the region fall and the labor force grows. It offers a detailed analysis of what conditions must be met in order for the region to take full economic advantage of ongoing population dynamics.

As the book makes clear, the region will need to accelerate reforms to cope with its demographic transition, in particular the decline of fertility. The continent will need to foster human capital formation through renewed efforts in the areas of education, health and employment. This will entail a true vision and determination on the part of African leaders and their development partners.

The book will help readers to gain solid knowledge of the demographic trends and provide insights into socioeconomic policies that eventually might lead sub-Saharan Africa into a successful future.

About this title

About the Author

Hans Groth is the Chairman of the Board of the World Demographic and Ageing Forum (WDA-Forum). A medical doctor by training, he has been working with Pfizer Inc. for 24 years, until 2013. In 2003, he was appointed “Pfizer Global Health Fellow” by UNAIDS to conduct case studies in Central Asia and Siberia in order to quantify the threat potential of HIV/AIDS/TB in that region. For the past fifteen years Hans Groth has been studying the interaction between global demographic change, economic development, wealth and societal stability. Among numerous publications he is the co-editor of the reference book Population Dynamics in Muslim Countries – Assembling the Jigsaw (Springer, 2012).

 

John F. May is a Visiting Scholar at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) in Washington, D.C. and Adjunct Professor of Demography at Georgetown University. For 15 years, he was a lead demographer at the World Bank. He has worked on many population projects around the world for UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, and IUSSP. He earned his doctorate in demography from the University of Paris-V (Sorbonne). His book World Population Policies: Their Origin, Evolution, and Impact (Springer, 2012) received the 2012 Global Media Award of the Population Institute for the best book on population. In March 2013, he was elected an Associate Member of the Belgian Academy of Sciences.

From the Back Cover

This book examines the promises as well as the challenges the demographic dividend brings to sub-Saharan Africa as fertility rates in the region fall and the labor force grows. It offers a detailed analysis of what conditions must be met in order for the region to take full economic advantage of ongoing population dynamics. As the book makes clear, the region will need to accelerate reforms to cope with its demographic transition, in particular the decline of fertility. The continent will need to foster human capital formation through renewed efforts in the areas of education, health and employment. This will entail a true vision and determination on the part of African leaders and their development partners. The book will help readers to gain solid knowledge of the demographic trends and provide insights into socioeconomic policies that eventually might lead sub-Saharan Africa into a successful future.

« Africa needs a serious dialogue on population, the demographic transition, and the demographic dividend. This book with its comprehensive approach to the subject, makes an invaluable contribution. A must read for policymakers and development practitioners. »

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance Minister of Nigeria and former Managing Director of The World Bank.

« Everyone concerned about human welfare in sub-Saharan Africa should know about the demographic dividend, what it is, what causes it and how to strengthen it. This volume provides an excellent summary of these crucial issues. The sooner policymakers pay attention and take the proper actions, the better. »

John Bongaarts, Vice President of the Population Council

« There is no more important socio-economic issue for this century than that of whether Africa's currently rapid population growth turns out to be a dividend or a curse. As a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to the potential and the challenges, this book deserves to be widely read and debated. »

Bill Emmott, former Editor-in-Chief of The Economist

« This book is of utmost strategic relevance for any globally active company. For Africa in particular, the role of demographic change and the potential economic opportunities are all too often disregarded. »

Reto Francioni, Chairman SWISS International Airlines, former CEO Deutsche Börse

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3319468871
• ISBN 13: 9783319468877
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 526
• Editor: Groth Hans, May John F.