The book explores the evolving economics of gold as a global commodity as well as the production and trade of gold in and from the African continent. The growth of gold as an increasingly important and diverse source of African wealth is examined, alongside the impact that the rise of China in the 21^st century has had on the demand for gold as well as its supply. Furthermore, the volatility of the gold price as a result of the dramatic decline of gold demand for manufacturing purposes is examined.

Gold which is Africa’s second largest export after oil is a perfect metaphor for a continent rich in resources while so much of its population lives in such dire poverty. The exploitation and dreadful health consequences of the artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, is surprisingly widely perceived as being beneficial to the development of Africa.

African Gold: Production, Trade and Development considers policy issues regarding the gold mining sector, the economics of beneficiation, the retreat of jewelry manufacturing across the continent as well as ‘Africa’s golden future’. It is a relevant book for both academics and policymakers interested in Africa, natural resource, and development economics.