In this issue, geography, market integration and institutions are identified as the fundamental constraints on Africa's future prosperity. It is pointed out that, in line with the recommendations of The Report of the Commission for Africa, African governments and international partners can...

It is clear that a lot remains to be learnt about the role of the financial sector in African growth and development process. All three papers in this volume focus on the existing consensus in the literature that there seems to be a positive relationship between financial development and...

The African natural and policy environment can be quite risky. Particularly in rural areas, weather and pests are a constant threat to livelihood, as are the vagaries of world markets and government policy. Not surprisingly, African households have developed approaches to mitigation of, and...