I don't want to sound cynical, but a repressive system is what capitalism has always preferred, right? So based on that alone you should see investors rushing for the gold already.
For potential angel investors, the lack of reliable statistics about the relevant markets is probably a big issue. Africa is also less homogenous than Europe, so we're talking about many different markets that need to be looked at individually.
>I don't want to sound cynical, but a repressive system is what capitalism has always preferred, right? So based on that alone you should see investors rushing for the gold already.
They do. In extractive industries and anything that involves negotiating favours with a government.
And I'm not sure capitalism prefers a repressive system or that systems in Africa are that oppressive (or the right kind of oppressive).
> For potential angel investors, the lack of reliable statistics about the relevant markets is probably a big issue.
Chicken and egg. Statistics appear when there is a market for them (investors).
I don't see why/how you would call this capitalism. It's got nothing to do with free markets. It's not something anyone who describes himself as a free arket idealist would endorse.
The only thing capitalistic about it is that someone accumulates wealth.
Capitalism does not require a free market and while people are free to describe themselves how ever they want the actions of the vast majority of successful capitalists places them firmly in the pragmatist--instead of the idealist--camp.
Even though Africa is less homogeneous than Europe, it's roughly divided into two halves, the English speaking and the French speaking countries. I would like to believe it's still homogeneous if you look closely. I think http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mxit have managed to scale , with over 40 million users and still counting.
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I don't want to sound cynical, but a repressive system is what capitalism has always preferred, right? So based on that alone you should see investors rushing for the gold already.
For potential angel investors, the lack of reliable statistics about the relevant markets is probably a big issue. Africa is also less homogenous than Europe, so we're talking about many different markets that need to be looked at individually.
>I don't want to sound cynical, but a repressive system is what capitalism has always preferred, right? So based on that alone you should see investors rushing for the gold already.
They do. In extractive industries and anything that involves negotiating favours with a government. And I'm not sure capitalism prefers a repressive system or that systems in Africa are that oppressive (or the right kind of oppressive).
> For potential angel investors, the lack of reliable statistics about the relevant markets is probably a big issue.
Chicken and egg. Statistics appear when there is a market for them (investors).
I don't see why/how you would call this capitalism. It's got nothing to do with free markets. It's not something anyone who describes himself as a free arket idealist would endorse.
The only thing capitalistic about it is that someone accumulates wealth.
Capitalism does not require a free market and while people are free to describe themselves how ever they want the actions of the vast majority of successful capitalists places them firmly in the pragmatist--instead of the idealist--camp.
You need low corruption, rule of law, contract enforcement, and property rights.
There's probably a very wide gap between the best and the worst countries in Africa in terms of this -- it's not one homogeneous region.
Even though Africa is less homogeneous than Europe, it's roughly divided into two halves, the English speaking and the French speaking countries. I would like to believe it's still homogeneous if you look closely. I think http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mxit have managed to scale , with over 40 million users and still counting.
a repressive system is what capitalism has always preferred
It sounds more than cynical, it sounds disingenuous.