Over the past ten years, Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced economic growth of approximately five percent per year. Today, 21 African countries are considered “middle income” (Christiaensen and Devarajan). Despite strong growth, the impact on poverty is much less than expected. Today, many African countries are among the poorest in the world. To solve this problem of poverty, the collective solution is economic development. Economic development refers to the ongoing actions of policymakers and corporations that encourage the standard of living and economic health of a specific area. It is a political commitment aimed at the economic and social well-being of people. “Economic development conveys a down-to-earth aspiration: to have clean water, decent schools and health facilities; produce larger crops and more manufactured goods; having access to consumer goods that people elsewhere consider a normal part of life (Cooper). » Africa has faced many internal and external limitations in its efforts to reduce poverty and promote development. In the 1940s, African governments and humanitarian agencies were looking for development economists. This area logically nourished the idea that poor regions could think about their future without disrupting the world order. Before the new development economists found their place within the establishment, they were challenged by economists who used parallel scientific tools to present contradictory arguments. This argument was that the international economy made the rich richer and the poor poorer (Cooper). This meant that disadvantaged countries had to distance themselves from global markets. Government corruption was a major constraint facing Africa. African and non-governmental regimes...... middle of paper...... even for having performed better than others. This is due to inequality in resources and the economy. Emerging countries have sought improvements in areas such as government and economic policies. African countries are poorly managed, which has enormous consequences on the continent. Implementing accountability would help Africa transform opportunities for economic growth into more sustained reductions in poverty and inequality. References: CHRISTIENSEN, LUC and SHANTAYANAN DEVARAJAN. “Making the most of Africa’s growth.” (nd): n. page. Internet. .Cooper, Frédéric. Africa since 1940: The past of the present. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2002. Print. Radelet, Steven C. Emerging Africa: how 17 countries are leading the way. Baltimore, MD: Center for Global Development, 2010. Print.