Africonomics: How Western thinking misread African economies
Feb 23rd 2026
Historian Bronwen Everill argues Western models and interventions have consistently misunderstood African economic systems, tracing failures from abolition era reforms to modern development finance, and offering lessons for today’s policymakers and investors.
- Everill shows Western policy often started from the assumption that Africa should resemble Europe or the United States, producing repeated failures.
- Interventions from abolition era reforms to contemporary development finance routinely ignored African economic traditions and local practices.
- Africonomics is an economic history with practical relevance for policymakers, investors and development institutions today.
- Futurist Bronwyn Williams says the book challenges prevailing narratives that shape policies by NGOs and multinationals.
- An interview on The Money Show with host Stephen Grootes and Bronwyn Williams explores these themes and is available as audio.