By the end of the twentieth century, sub-Saharan Africa had experiencedtwenty-five years of economic and political disaster. While "economicmiracles" in China and India raised hundreds of millions from extreme poverty, Africa seemed to have been overtaken by violent conflict and mass destitution, andranked lowest in the world in just about every economic and social indicator.Working in Busia, a small Kenyan border town, economist Edward Miguel began tonotice something different starting in 1997: modest but steady economic progress, with new construction projects, flower markets, shops, and ubiquitous cell phones.In Africa's Turn? Miguel tracks a decade of comparably hopeful economic trendsthroughout sub-Saharan Africa and suggests that we may be seeing a turnaround. Hebases his hopes on a range of recent changes: democracy is finally taking root inmany countries; China's successes have fueled large-scale investment in Africa; andrising commodity prices have helped as well. Miguel warns, though, that the growthis fragile. Violence and climate change could derail it quickly, and he argues forspecific international assistance when drought and civil strife loom. Responding toMiguel, nine experts gauge his optimism. Some question the progress of democracy inAfrica or are more skeptical about China's constructive impact, while others thinkthat Miguel has underestimated the threats represented by climate change andpopulation growth. But most agree that something new is happening, and that policyinnovations in health, education, agriculture, and government accountability are thekey to Africa's future.Contributors Olu Ajakaiye, Ken Banks, Robert Bates, PaulCollier, Rachel Glennerster, Rosamond Naylor, Smita Singh, David N. Weil, and JeremyM. Weinstein