The economic well being of Africa depends on the provision of jobs to the people on the continent. However, in the majority of African countries, the government and public enterprises constitute the main source of jobs for young men and women coming out of school. With negligible job creation because of a shrinking public sector, African graduates increasingly find themselves unemployed, and in some cases, under-employed. This problem can partially be resolved by empowering individuals to engage in business, investments, and other private transactions.


To engender investment and create jobs, laws and legal institutions in Africa can be used to create an environment favourable to economic activity, for example, by enforcing property rights, creating tax advantage for new investments, and reducing red tape that slows the process of establishing new businesses. The entire law and justice sector must function predictably, effectively and transparently to help reduce the level of risk for both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors. Indeed, because of weak legal systems in some African countries and a lack of enforcement of laws in others, Africa find itself with the lowest percentage of private businesses and foreign direct investments compared to developing regions in other parts of the world.


Under this research program, we will examine how to enact or amend laws that will help improve Africa’s dismal record in creating small businesses and attracting Foreign Direct Investments while at the same time creating jobs for the unemployed.