An Unconventional Introduction to Development Economics: A lively and user-friendly case studies method using hundreds of real-life macroeconomic scenarios from 52 countries

Rather than present development economics by introducing and explaining theories and concepts, this volume introduces the topic through the lens of a business investor exploration. Using the 52 developing countries of Africa as background, the reader is led to explore and analyze their economic environments over a combined period of 15 years. In so doing, various mechanisms, concepts and theories are utilized and they are introduced and explained at every step. This way, the reader becomes acquainted with the intricacies of development economics in a practical manner that involves real-life economic and business scenarios. Not only do they learn and grasp economic concepts and theories, they also learn how these work and when to deploy them. They should come away with a vivid understanding of development economics and developing countries characteristics, all of this experienced in an engaging, vibrant, graphically attractive and user-friendly process.

The book starts out with the conviction and basic premise that economic concepts are too often portrayed as complicated subject matter; its intent is to introduce macroeconomics to the reader and show that economics can indeed be a good friend with interesting stories to tell.

Possibly the first things noticed about the volume are its vivid colors and exciting appearance. That is deliberate: it has been designed to be invigorating and inviting to read, while being at the same time of the highest academic and analytical standards. In this light, of particular consequence are the incisive and pithy commentaries that accompany the analyses outcomes on every page.

Praise for work by Tony Okoromadu:

It is hard to imagine a more colorful and comprehensive reference book. This is a staggeringly detailed compilation. Clearly a massive undertaking.

AACSB
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
USA

A great deal of work and an extraordinary job in assembling this vast amount of interesting material and data. And he presents these in an imaginative and innovative way. The book is reminiscent of the style of The Economist’s World in Figures and would sit well in that class.

Michael Hay
Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship
London Business School

A remarkable job of putting together the background information on Africa. The information is also beautifully and imaginatively displayed. This is a remarkable piece of work.

Martin Wolf
Chief Economics Commentator
Financial Times
London

An indispensable tool. The target audience is foreign investors, government and development agencies. The format is easy-to-use, making the content readily comprehensible to a wider public. Deserves to become a standard reference for many years to come.

Jonathan Story
Emeritus Professor of International Political Economy
INSEAD
France

His novel approach both sets today’s statistics in a recognisable context and clearly improves the landscape for decision-making.

Baroness Lynda Chalker
Former Cabinet Minister
United Kingdom Government

It makes sense of the statistics, pointing out the trends, strengths and weaknesses that lie behind the figures. Reliable factual material, superbly presented and interpreted in a way that makes it immediately understandable. A rare commodity.

David White
Former Africa Editor
Financial Times
London

A unique and impressive compendium. Represents a new and refreshing approach to country analyses.

Joe Nellis
Professor of International Management Economics
Cranfield University School of Management
United Kingdom

Tony Okoromadu holds an MBA from IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain, and a Masters in Economics from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. He has lived and worked in Europe, Africa and North America, with years of management experience in diverse industry sectors, the most recent being in Fortune 100 companies. These areas include international economic development, business development, market and industry analysis, strategy, and marketing. His analytical and intellectual competencies and business insights have received praise from prestigious institutions around the world, among them the Financial Times (United Kingdom), INSEAD (France), London Business School (United Kingdom), and The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (USA). His work on emerging African economies and their markets was published in 2010 in London, United Kingdom, and is currently a resource for companies in over 22 countries around the world, helping them make business decisions involving that continent. That work is also used in several universities in the United States including Texas A&M (College Station, TX), Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) and University of Florida (Gainesville, FL). He is a consultant based with his family in the United States, and works closely with universities and colleges, particularly Texas A&M University.