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Essays, policy briefs and country analysis
Every entry published by African Ledger, newest first. Two essays and three policy briefs a month, for trade practitioners, policymakers and AfCFTA scholars.
Ethiopia’s Second Transformation
Ethiopia is moving from a development model centred on public investment and state direction towards a more market-oriented economic framework. The central issue is whether this transition can deepen the…
Can Africa’s Special Economic Zones Build More Than Factories?
In May 2026, Kenya amended its Special Economic Zones framework. The amendment was presented as part of efforts to strengthen the investment environment and improve the competitiveness of the country’s…
Who Gets the Small Business?
On 2 September 2026, President William Ruto directed the Kenyan government to crack down on foreign nationals operating small-scale businesses. The directive followed complaints from Kenyan traders who argued that…
Rethinking Development as Productive Transformation in Africa
Development? Development cannot simply be reduced to economic growth alone. Growth tells us that an economy has become larger. It does not, by itself, tell us what changed in the…