allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2)

via allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2).

A pioneering new survey of public opinion in 34 countries across the continent suggests that the relatively high average growth in gross domestic product (GDP) reported in recent years is not reflected in the experiences of most citizens.

An average of one in five Africans still often goes without food, clean water or medical care. Only one in three think economic conditions in their country are good. Fifty-three percent say they are “fairly bad” or “very bad”.

The survey suggests that either the benefits of growth are being disproportionately channelled to a wealthy elite or that official statistics are overstating average growth rates (or possibly a combination of both)…