The economic crisis in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s and 1990s has generated fierce debate among analysts and policy-makers concerning its causes and appropriate ways out of it. The 'structural adjustment' programmes promoted by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have been at the centre of the debate. This volume brings together economists from these international financial institutions and some of the best known of their critics to show where the debate now-stands.

A distinguished collection of African and international economists offers up-to-date analysis of the key policy issues in structural adjustment in Africa.

Among the policies addressed are those in the spheres of agriculture, trade, exchange rates, privatisation, investment, social sectors, external relations and democratisation. An introductory interpretive essay searches for areas of consensus and identifies those of continuing controversy. In no other place is there such an up-to-date, informed and comprehensive analysis of the debate over African recovery.