Preface

Abstract

In furtherance of its mission of strengthening local capacity for conducting independent rigorous inquiry into problems of managing Sub-Saharan African economies and facilitating evidence-based policy-making in the region, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) holds two Research Workshops every year. Its purpose is to offer a rigorous environment for African economists to present their research and receive constructive criticisms voiced by their peers and resource persons from within and outside the region. At the commencement of each research workshop, a one-day plenary session is devoted to addressing topical policy-relevant issues. During each session, state-of-the-art papers are presented on the chosen topic by leading economists worldwide. Topics addressed in the previous plenary sessions included: The primary objectives of the plenary sessions are to (i) inform AERC researchers on emerging issues in a particular area of research, (ii) provide a forum for signalling new research concerns or deepening existing ones within the thematic focus and (iii) provide lessons to policy-makers on how such issues might be effectively addressed in the African context. Authors of plenary papers are, therefore, leading experts on the relevant topic whose presentations typically cover the state-of-the-art with respect to issues, methodology and evidence from Africa and elsewhere as well highlight potential areas for further research.