Infrastructure and Structural Change in Africa

B-Tier
Journal: World Bank Economic Review
Year: 2024
Volume: 38
Issue: 3
Pages: 483-513

Authors (2)

Matías Herrera Dappe (World Bank Group) Mathilde Lebrand (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Past investments in electricity, Internet, and road infrastructure, in isolation and bundled, have contributed to structural transformation and economic development in Africa. Using new data on the expansion of the road, electricity, and Internet networks over the past two decades, the paper shows that having access to both paved roads and electricity has led to a significant reallocation of labor from agricultural to both manufacturing and services. Adding access to fast Internet has had a major impact on structural change, with an even larger impact on reallocating labor away from agriculture. The paper then uses a spatial general-equilibrium model to quantify the impacts of future regional transport investments, bundled with electricity and Internet investments, on economic development in countries in the Horn of Africa and Lake Chad region.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:wbecrv:v:38:y:2024:i:3:p:483-513.
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-02-02