Power-sector reform and regulation in Africa

The nature of competitive rivalry, and the power and interests of large firms and their owners, is at the heart of how countries develop. Large firms shape the economy as these firms can make the investments required in productive capacity, provide the upstream inputs and services required by smaller businesses and, in many areas, are also the main routes to market. At the same time these firms tend to have market power if competition between them is weak. In crude terms, it is critical whether these firms are able to focus on extracting rents through market power, or whether the returns reward their effort, creativity and entrepreneurship. Competition authorities and economic regulators are critical institutions in restraining the market power of firms while at the same tie taking into account the need to incentivise investment.

The book maps out key issues in competition through four key industry studies across Southern and East Africa. It considers the nature and extent of market power, the development of large firms, their production, investment and the prices of products across countries. This takes into account the work of competition authorities in the different countries and the implications of industrial policies. The concluding chapter draws out critical implications for competition, regional integration and economic development. This fills a big gap as there are no similar publications relating to this important topic.

This paper examines the political and socio-economic factors that influence democratisation throughout South Africa and the African continent. The emphasis is on the policies and impact of government, business and civil society in reducing inequality and poverty. Issues of community empowerment are also examined as a way to promote sustainable development.

Does the African continent want to be economically and socially sustainable as well as environmentally safe? What is the role of culture and how does it shape development strategies? In New African Thinkers: Culture at the Heart of Sustainable Development, the authors argue that culture – defined broadly as the way of life, system of values and controls, and modes of practice and expression – lies at the heart of a re-imagined Africa as a place of prosperity and socio-economic well-being, integration, and self-determination. By contextualising the discourse of development, the authors hope to influence policy and practice towards shifting the narrative from ‘one size fits all’ to a more morally justified and socially diverse model.

About the book

The African Union’s Agenda 2063 is ambitious. It advocates for, among others,

• equitable and people-centred growth and development;

• eradication of poverty;

• development of human capital;

• creation of infrastructure and provision of public goods and services;

• empowerment of women and youth;

• promotion of peace and security, and the strengthening of democratic states, and

• creating participatory and accountable governance institutions.



New African Thinkers: Agenda Africa, 2063 presents the thinking of emerging scholars on these critical issues – those on whose shoulders the responsibility rests for taking this agenda forward. The book will be an essential reference for researchers and educators who are interested in Africa’s developmental path as designed in the Agenda 2063.