In his book How Africa Works, Joe Studwell argues that one of the overlooked reasons for Africa’s historically slow economic growth has been its low population density. Unlike the common perception that rapid population growth creates economic challenges, Studwell suggests that sparse populations limited the development of large consumer markets and made infrastructure investments more expensive. He notes that only recently has Africa reached population density levels comparable to those of Asia in the 1960s, creating conditions more favorable for economic transformation.
The book explores historical factors that contributed to low population density across the continent, including disease burdens, slavery, and difficult agricultural conditions. Studwell highlights how poor soil quality and environmental challenges restricted agricultural productivity for centuries. He also discusses the significant impact of large wildlife populations on farming activities, presenting a unique perspective on the historical constraints that affected economic development in many African societies.
Studwell also examines Africa’s political evolution since independence. He argues that nation-building in African countries should be viewed as a long-term process similar to state formation in Europe, which took centuries and involved significant political and social challenges. Given Africa’s ethnic diversity and relatively recent state formation, he believes political stability and national cohesion require sustained effort over time.
A central theme of the book is that Africa can follow a development path similar to that of successful East Asian economies such as China, South Korea, and Taiwan. Studwell outlines a three-step strategy focused on creating developmental coalitions, improving smallholder agricultural productivity, and expanding manufacturing industries. According to him, governments should promote inclusive political arrangements that reduce ethnic divisions and implement long-term development plans to support economic growth.
