First published 2017
African economic data tells a story built on shaky foundations. Morten Jerven brings together researchers who reveal how statistical weaknesses distort our understanding of poverty, agriculture, labor, education, health, and growth across the continent. The contributors show that poor data quality misleads policy makers, international agencies, donors, private companies, and African citizens themselves. Academic work suffers when scholars rely on flawed surveys that challenge standard research methods. Jerven demonstrates that this problem spans multiple fields, from history and economics to social epidemiology and education policy. The book serves as a practical guide for anyone who uses or commissions surveys in Africa, offering concrete steps to improve both the quality and quantity of available data.
Genres: social-science, politics, economics, non-fiction, africa, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: Africa
136 pages · Kindle Edition · Routledge