African Gold

The book explores the evolving economics of gold as a global commodity as wellas the production and trade of gold in and from the African continent. The growthof gold as an increasingly important and diverse source of African wealth isexamined, alongside the impact that the rise of China in the 21stcentury has hadon the demand for gold. The volatility of thegold price has increased as a result of the dramatic decline of gold demand for manufacturingpurposes. Gold is Africa's second largest export after oil and is a perfect metaphor for acontinent rich in resources while so much of its population lives in such direpoverty. The artisanal andsmall scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, is surprisingly widely perceived as beingbeneficial to the development of Africa despite itsexploitation and dreadful health and environmental consequences. African Gold: Production, Trade and Economic Developmentconsiders policy issues regardingthe gold mining sector, the economics of beneficiation, the retreat of jewelrymanufacturing across the continent as well as 'Africa's golden future'. It is arelevant book for both academics and policymakers interested in Africa, naturalresource, and development economics.