Technical publication on the structure of industrial enterprises in the informal sector in African countries

Abstract

The economic crisis in Africa during the last two decades has been unprecedented. The rate of GDP growth was a mere 1,2%; overall export revenue for most countries declined in real value while imports increased , financed by more costly borrowing thus compounding debt burdens. In the industrial sector, production declined and in many countries even deindustrialization has taken place. Established plants operated at below capacity, further investment nearly halted, all this fuelled increased problems of unemployment, scarcity of essential commodities and falling standards of living.