The Oxford Handbook of the Malawi Economy is an essential reference material with new research contributions and insights across the different areas of economic development to shape the country's future growth and development trajectory.
The volume is the first publication that tries to assess the performance of the Malawi economy since independence, by examining how the underpinning political and economic history, and the associated policies and strategies have affected the country's long-term socio-economic development. It captures a broad range of opinions, approaches, and conclusions, which serve to underline both the complexity of the issues and challenges facing Malawi, and the immense difficulties in tackling them. Common themes emerge as many authors agree that the country needs to learn from its past experiences in terms of policy design and implementation, and the need to implement dynamic policies that could spur productive and sustained growth and development by tackling challenges associated with the continuously evolving global economic environment.
Hopestone Kayiska Chavula is an Economist currently with the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, providing support to African countries on macroeconomic and the use of digital technologies for development related issues. Dr Chavula holds a PhD in Economics and has taught Economics and Computer sciences at the University of Malawi, after working in the private and public sector, as both an Economist and information technology (IT) specialist.
Harold Ngalawa is a Professor of Economics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. In 2018, he founded the Macroeconomics Research Unit, the only research unit in South Africa specializing in macroeconomics research. Professor Ngalawa has also taught Economics at the University of Malawi. Before joining the academia, he worked as Bank Economist at the Commercial Bank of Malawi and Head of Research at Continental Discount House, Malawi. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Cape Town.
Boniface Dulani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and Government at the University of Malawi. He is also a member of the pan-African research network, Afrobarometer, where he serves as Director of Surveys. Dulani holds a PhD. in Comparative Politics with minors in International Relations, from Michigan State University.
Thomas Chataghalala Munthali is the first Director General of the Malawi National Planning Commission since March 2019, after being Director of Knowledge and Learning at the African Capacity Building Foundation based in Harare, Zimbabwe coordinating Africa's capacity development efforts. He holds a PhD in Business and Economics, University of Leeds, England. Prior to this, Dr. Munthali worked as Country Director for Innovations for Poverty Action covering Malawi and Zambia; as Economist with Ministry of Economic Planning, World Bank and UNFPA; as advisor to the chair of the African Union in 2010/11, and as President of the Economics Association of Malawi.
