For a long time narratives around economic development have been dominated by a damaging obsession with GDP growth. In his new book Lorenzo Fioramonti argues that the time has come for the “growth first” approach to be replaced by a focus on wellbeing.
Rwanda and the DRC have signed a deal to explore for oil at the bottom of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes. But there are enormous risks attached to drilling for oil under the lake because of its very particular features. Robert Hecky explains.
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GDP as a measure of growth fails to account for damages caused to the environment by industrial activity.
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Lorenzo Fioramonti, University of Pretoria
Our approach to economic growth has done more harm than good and must be be replaced with more appropriate goals.
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Business + Economy
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Prof Francois Vreÿ, Stellenbosch University
Many African countries are sitting on vast and under-utilised oceanic territories that have the potential to unlock enormous economic value, if properly governed.
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Environment + Energy
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Robert Hecky, University of Minnesota Duluth
There are large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide dissolved in the deep waters of lake Kivu - if disturbed they could cause a catastrophe.
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Politics + Society
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Yu-Shan Wu, University of the Witwatersrand; Chris Alden, London School of Economics and Political Science; Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, University of the Witwatersrand
China has launched a quietly aggressive global trade, development and infrastructure initiative based on the ancient Silk Road model. But is Africa welcome on the journey to renewed prosperity?
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Health + Medicine
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Kabir Sheikh, Public Health Foundation of India
The new director-general of the World Health Organisation has set universal health coverage as a priority. There are several ways to make headway with this goal.
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From our international editions
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Terry L. McCoy, University of Florida
Brazil's president, who came to power after his ex-boss was impeached, now finds himself embroiled in corruption charges, which threaten to derail the economic recovery he has championed.
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Steven Watts, University of Missouri-Columbia
Reagan, Clinton, Obama and Trump would all pull from the Kennedy playbook, from mastering the media to exuding masculine vitality.
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Coral Dando, University of Westminster
A new study suggests that distorted moral cognition is what set terrorists apart from the rest of us.
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