The capitalist revolution Africa needs

The world’s poorest continent should embrace its least fashionable idea

In the coming years Africa will become more important than at any time in the modern era. Over the next decade its share of the world’s population is expected to reach 21%, up from 13% in 2000, 9% in 1950 and 11% in 1800. As the rest of the world ages, Africa will become a crucial source of labour: more than half the young people entering the global workforce in 2030 will be African.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Africa needs a capitalist revolution”

From the January 11th 2025 edition

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