Morten Jerven
Morten Jerven is an economist and economic historian, known for his work on African economic development issues. He has critically examined the quality of economic statistics in Africa and their implications on understanding economic trends and development. Jerven has authored several influential books and articles, including 'Poor Numbers: How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics and What to Do about It', which challenges the reliability of economic data in Africa and discusses its impact on policy and perceptions of African economies.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. Poor Numbers
This book critically examines the reliability of economic statistics in Sub-Saharan Africa, revealing a significant gap between the reported data and the actual economic realities on the ground. The author delves into the systemic issues plaguing statistical offices across the continent, including underfunding, political interference, and a lack of technical capacity, which collectively contribute to the production of inaccurate economic data. By analyzing the processes and methodologies used to gather and report these statistics, the book sheds light on the profound implications these "poor numbers" have for policy-making, economic development, and international perceptions of African economies. Through this exploration, it calls for a reevaluation of how economic data in these countries is collected and used, advocating for reforms that could lead to more accurate and meaningful measurements of economic progress.
The 9467th Greatest Book of All Time
