The African manufacturing sector continues to face many problems as it struggles to progress from its presently underdeveloped state. If the countries that make up Africa are ever to raise the living standards of the vast majority of its population to a more acceptable level, then the economic growth that would result from an enlarged and improved manufacturing sector may hold an important key. The book provides a useful source of greater understanding of African manufacturing firms and the perplexing lack of widespread industrial growth during the post-colonial decades. The comprehensive coverage includes such themes as: *the size and distribution of firms in Africa *entrepreneurship, labour and the regulatory and business environments in Africa *the dynamic problem of growth and investment of firms Any reader wanting to understand the economic problems of Africa will need to read this book, and any student, academic or policy-maker working in the areas of development and industrial economics will find it to be a most useful guide.

Dipak Mazumdar is Professor at the Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, Canada.
Ata Mazaheri is at the University of Toronto, Canada.

Part I: The Economies of the Survey Countries in Africa
Part II: The Economic Structure and Production Relations
Part III: Factors of Production
Part IV: Dynamics of Firm Behavior
Part V: Competitiveness and Exports
Part VI: Conclusions