The Economist Asks:
Is improving infrastructure in Africa more important than improving governance?


A new report by the African Development Bank suggests that Chinese-style infrastructure development does more to help Africa than Western aid focused on good governance, education and health. The report argues that the quickest route to development is through investment in heavy infrastructure, in particular roads, electricity generation and water.

But increasing spending on these kinds of projects might result in less being spent on health and education, previously thought to be the key to development.

Is infrastructure more important than Western donors have been willing to admit? Are they right to be suspicious of spending on infrastructure programmes which can swiftly become useless prestige projects? Which do you think is more important?

Leave comments here or goto http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/improving-infrastructure-africa-more-important-improving-governance to cast your vote and join the debate.

IMHO:

Both are important.

Good governance brings (better) infrastructure and not the other way round. ADB's viewpoint is perhaps based on the rationale that while trying to achieve full good governance, Africa has to develop in the interim. I chose to differ.

Africa's foremost issue is (lack of) leadership. Let us accelerate the proceses of entrenching credible elections, rule of law and due process.
Overhead due to corruption, lack of planning and reliance on foreign goods will drop significantly to let African governments and businesses focus on infrastructural development amongst other important things.

What will good infrastructure bring on the long term if it is not sustainable from a maintenance and planning perspective (which are in turn dependent on good governance)?