Economic complexity and employment expansion in Africa

Abstract

This policy brief provides a synthesis of four country case studies: Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa. Economic complexity refers to the amount of “productive knowledge” or “technical know-how” within a country. The paper provides a table summarizing product-specific constraints by country. Country constraints include product certification, which is performed by state agencies. When such agencies lack regulatory capacity, products do not get certified and as result, cannot be exported – inhibiting the growth of firms. Constraints also exist where there is inadequate electricity supply; firms need to invest in expensive diesel-operated generators in order to function.