Gokce Ege SaatciogluMay 10, 2014ECP3113How does Africa's rapid population growth affect global demography and economy?IntroductionThree centuries ago, the United Kingdom was at the forefront of the industrial revolution; soon after, most of Western Europe followed with massive industrialization and exponential population growth. This period marks a paradigm shift in economic and demographic models. For example, Malthus's population growth model was refuted by new trends of sustainable population growth associated with rapid industrialization. This trend would continue until the late 1900s, until Western industrialized countries began to stagnate and eventually regressed in terms of population growth. In 1950, there were two Europeans for every African; however, with current trends, there will be two Africans for every European (The Economist, 2009). Africa is a different continent than it was a few decades ago. Much has changed since the days of European colonization. Like the American West in the late 1800s, Africa is a promising but dangerous frontier, with exciting new businesses and niche markets forming in every corner of the vast African continent. Parts of Africa are still plagued by famine and disease, but new medical and technological advances are making it more efficient and less expensive to develop the continent from a tribal continent to an industrial continent. Data shows that Africa's growth rate exceeds that of all other continents. rates and its economic growth rates are also high. In fact, Africa is the third fastest-growing region in the world, behind East Asia and the Middle East. Africa's high population growth rates have certainly helped boost economic growth rates, but so have increases in raw materials, paper, and minerals; however, natural resources accounted for 32% of GDP between 2000 and 2008. The modern African economy is a major supplier of raw materials to developed countries; however, the African economy can be very sensitive to demand shocks that it cannot control. In recent years, Africa's place in the global economy has been fragile, despite strong growth. There is little diversification of industries, a massive flight of capital and intellectuals and a decline in exports. Some African countries have tried to compensate for economic decline by liberalizing trade and markets and improving macroeconomic management, but deeper problems remain that must first be resolved. Africa must focus on reforming its institutions, rebuilding its crumbling infrastructure and fixing its deteriorating economic capacity before solving its superficial problems..