Matthew McCartney

For decades, policymakers, donor organizations, and academics have engaged in a debate over economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, proposing different policy responses over time. In recent years, there has been a renewed emphasis on the significance of infrastructure, especially due to the exorbitant transportation costs in the region. The question remains: can improved road infrastructure help sub-Saharan Africa surmount the geographic distance barriers that impede economic growth? This paper seeks to delve into the potential long-term economic effects of Zambia’s road construction boom between 2011 and 2022.

Learning from the history of walls and a modest proposal to “Tear Down This Wall.” This paper uses a historical case-study methodology by returning to the last great age of wall building to search for lessons.

The African Union (AU) has pioneered a vision of a network of high-speed railways to link up all the major African cities. This paper draws on lessons from the railways of the nineteenth century to help us answer questions about the prospects of the African railway renaissance today.