What is the role of industrialisation in job creation and economic development? How can developing country governments find policy solutions to promote it? And what are the main challenges likely to be faced by Africa’s aspiring industrialisers in the 21st century?

These questions will be discussed by Stephen Peel and Professor Stefan Dercon, chair and academic director, respectively, of the project on Rethinking African Paths to Industrial Development (RAPID). They will be joined in conversation by Professor Benno Ndulu, academic co-director (with Stefan Dercon) of the Pathways for Prosperity Commission on Technology and Inclusive Development. The discussion will centre around the presentation of the new RAPID web resource, which illustrates the project’s framework for thinking about the challenges of industrial policy in Africa.