Charles Robertson: Africa's next boom

The past decade has seen slow and steady economic growth across the continent of Africa. But economist Charles Robertson has a bold thesis: Africa's about to boom. He talks through a few of the indicators -- from rising education levels to expanded global investment (and not just from China) -- that lead him to predict rapid growth for a billion people, sooner than you may think.

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[TitoOnDeck]

After everyone ran off from Africa, we can now say Come Back to Africa...

[jiylee]

oh gosh. did he really just say that richer countries are not corrupted...they are just as corrupted in much discrete ways. 

[thewinematcher]

Textile industries will put these countries onto the road of industrialization and wealth?

Possibly monetary wealth...but health is wealth, health of the land is wealth and has much more value than the production of textiles for countries looking to drain resources from Africa.

Thumbs down for inciting investment and globalization in a continent were its residents will suffer for it.

[PoppyDog]

Inspiring! A rising, growing Africa is a great thing for the world.

[abdullahifarah]

Nigeria gdp rebased is now the 24th largest economy. future super power.

[WilkineBrutus]

Then why would you respond? The quality of leadership across the continent has improved, which is why they've grown by 5% instead of the bleak forecast of 2% a decade ago. He admitted that corruption is still a major issue (as with in my other developed or underdeveloped democracies), but the quality of leadership in regards to social mobility has changed.

[matthewlewis]

"Every rich country is relatively uncorrupt". Not The United States.

[fiveredpears]

Economists never talk about the reality behind economic growth, the fact that it is built on millions of people being treated as little more than slaves. Cogs in an economic machine.

[lovelymelyssa]

Wow i am youth living in Kenya and trust me this guy has a point. South Africa, Rwanda even my country Kenya is booming. corruption is one of the biggest problems in our economy.

[shadmdbanks]

being of African decent myself, i feel like this talk is very hopeful. at the same time, i am going to exhibit cautious optimism. I am aware that he probably knows more than i do on the subject matter but grouping us as "Africa" is where the problems begin. we are an extremely diverse people with varying degrees of issues. corruption is almost a cultural thing and it will continue to affect growth until there is a change in mindset

[WWZenaDo]

Is it "Africa" which is going to boom, or is it First World countries' investments in Africa that are actually what will "boom"??

[WWZenaDo]

Historically it's been First World countries - Britain, Nederlands, Germany, etc - who profited from African development. It would be good to see the African people finally gain control over their natural resources & profits resulting therefrom, but centuries of exploitation hinder such advances. Have all the first-world countries & corporations who've invested in diamond mines, other forms of mineral wealth, etc, signed over their share of financial profits to the Africans yet? No?

[rprasannakumar]

If you haven't noticed its not me who is trying to pin the blame on someone or something but its the person in the video who while trying to seem like making an implicit suggestion ended up accusing developing nations for being what they are - Developing nations. As an economist one should base ones understanding of things on fact's and not on subjectivities which is what you yourself have concurred to by trying too hard to be indifferent.

[irisryu]

He didn't say anything about an impossible debt. He only mention a moral obligation.
you know, when when your parents "borrow" a large sum of money from the neighbor and didn't pay back. Then they died and you inherited the fortune. You may not have a legal obligation to pay back the neighbor son, but it is quite cold to close your eyes when you see the homeless neighbor's son walking by.

[nilaij]

"Among the reasons I think it is happening right now is the quality of the leadership across Africa." Say what? I'll admit I'm not the most informed person on politics in general and especially on African politics, but somehow I find this hard to believe, especially since he doesn't back up his claim with anything other than his personal experience, i.e. anecdotal evidence.

[chamakamukwamba]

Inspiring talk. Good to see some optimism about the future of Africa.

[kathrayres]

What I heard was a call to invest in Africa's success. Injecting more money into the African economy by way of commercial investment in the actual African people (not just "involvement, " which is sad and exploitative) would almost certainly make Africa a much better place to live as a whole in terms of overall wealth, life expectancy, etc. Success in today's global economy is built on trust that your country is capable of contributing to the economic landscape- investment builds that trust.

[srimansrini]

Though not fully convincing, because your past performance will not guarantee the future, still we can understand Africa is rising and leading to a right path of peace and prosperity. Certainly the 21st century will not be entirely African one, because two of the Asian giants--China and India--are growing rapidly. However, the long neglected dark continent should grow. It is the right time and they should cease that opportunity to achieve prosperity.

[WilkineBrutus]

No, that's not what he meant. He meant young men in general; as in, the maturity level of young men throughout any country is based on their education levels and whether they'll be able to be trainable and sustain growth.

[WWZenaDo]

Who said the African countries were "stupid" - besides you? But speaking of Indian companies, it took what - at least 100 years for them to develop their own internal industrial complex free of British influence? It takes some time to shake off the effects of imperialism - I'm concerned that imperialistic corporations will continue to make it difficult for African countries to become truly independent & reap the profits from their own raw materials & resources.