| Description |
1 online resource (xx, 187 pages). |
|
data file |
| Series |
Cornell studies in political economy
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Cornell studies in political economy.
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| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-177) and index. |
| Contents |
What do we know about income and growth in Africa? -- Measuring African wealth and progress -- Facts, assumptions and controversy : lessons from the datasets -- Data for development : a guide to African development statistics -- Conclusion : development by numbers. |
| Summary |
"One of the most urgent challenges in African economic development is to devise a strategy for improving statistical capacity. Reliable statistics, including estimates of economic growth rates and per-capita income, are basic to the operation of governments in developing countries and vital to nongovernmental organizations and other entities that provide financial aid to them. Rich countries and international financial institutions such as the World Bank allocate their development resources on the basis of such data. The paucity of accurate statistics is not merely a technical problem; it has a massive impact on the welfare of citizens in developing countries. Where do these statistics originate? How accurate are they? Poor Numbers is the first analysis of the production and use of African economic development statistics. Morten Jerven's research shows how the statistical capacities of sub-Saharan African economies have fallen into disarray. The numbers substantially misstate the actual state of affairs. As a result, scarce resources are misapplied. Development policy does not deliver the benefits expected. Policymakers' attempts to improve the lot of the citizenry are frustrated. Donors have no accurate sense of the impact of the aid they supply. Jerven's findings from sub-Saharan Africa have far-reaching implications for aid and development policy. As Jerven notes, the current catchphrase in the development community is "evidence-based policy," and scholars are applying increasingly sophisticated econometric methods--but no statistical techniques can substitute for partial and unreliable data."--Publisher's website. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
Economic development -- Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Statistics.
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Economic development. |
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Sub-Saharan Africa. |
| Genre/Form |
Statistics.
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| Subject |
National income -- Africa, Southern -- Accounting.
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National income. |
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Southern Africa. |
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Economic indicators -- Africa, Sub-Saharan.
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Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic conditions -- Statistics.
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Accounting. |
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Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Statistical services.
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Statistical services. |
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Economic indicators. |
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POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Economy. |
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Economic conditions. |
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BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Industries -- General. |
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Economic history. |
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National income -- Accounting. |
| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
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Electronic books.
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| Other Form: |
Print version: Poor numbers Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 2013. 9780801451638 (cloth : alk. paper) (DLC) 2012045248 |
| ISBN |
9780801467608 ebook |
|
0801467608 |
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9780801478604 paperback : alkaline paper |
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0801467616 (electronic book) |
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9780801451638 cloth : alkaline paper |
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9780801467615 (electronic book) |
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0801451639 (cloth ; alkaline paper) |
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080147860X (paperback ; alkaline paper) |
| Standard No. |
40022068916 |
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