The past decade has been disastrous for Africa. Different solutions have been proposed for this crisis, but the stabilization and structural adjustment packages of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have had the greatest influence. Characteristically these packages are designed to diminish the role of the state and enhance that of the market but a whole range of strategies have been pursued to achieve these ends. On different occasions demand or supply side measures have been favoured and policies have been adopted with a view to the short, middle or long term. Given that much...