Economic growth and poverty alleviation in Africa – linking hard and soft economics

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to provide a quick glance at the dominant issues that have characterized the developing economics debate during the past five decades. It seeks to offer a backdrop for the papers in the present volume of AJEMS.|Design/methodology/approach – It is based on a review of a selection of literature that highlights the dominant perspectives in development economics.|Findings – It draws a distinction between soft and hard economics, arguing that economic growth must be converted into social change that benefits poor for it to be described as development-oriented.|Originality/value – It provides a direction for future research into issues of economic growth and poverty alleviation in Sub-Sahara Africa.