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Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Dr Donald L Sparks

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Senior Research Fellow

Research keywords: blue economy, regional economic development, sub-Saharan Africa, western Indian Ocean, globalisation

Dr Donald L Sparks is Visiting Professor of International Economics at the Management Center Innsbruck, Austria and Emeritus Professor of International Economics at the Citadel in Charleston, SC (where he was named MBA Professor-of-the-Year three times).

Dr Sparks was a Senior Consulting Associate in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US Department of State during the Obama administration. He has been a Fulbright Professor of Economics at the University of Eswatini (Swaziland), the University of Maribor, in Slovenia and at the School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. He was also a Fulbright Senior Specialist at the University of Eswatini, at the African Union Commission’s Department of Economic Affairs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the National University of Laos. He was the Department Chairman and Visiting Professor of Economics at the American University in Cairo.

Before beginning his academic career, Dr Sparks was in the Foreign Service serving as the Regional Economist for Africa in the Office of Economic Analysis at the US Department of State in Washington, DC and prior to that as a Staff Assistant to Senator Ernest F Hollings.

Dr Sparks has published widely, including authoring the “Economic Trends” chapter of Africa South of the Sahara for each edition for the past 37 years. His interest in the economies of Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean goes back decades and his latest two books look at blue economy opportunities in the region.

He has been a consultant for a number of international organizations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Council for Namibia, the Economist Intelligence Unit and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (where he serves on the Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy).

Dr Sparks is a life member of the Fulbright Association and served on its board of directors for six years and president of the SC Chapter for ten. He serves on the board of directors of the Charleston Council for International Visitors.

He received his MA and PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and his BA from the George Washington University (Washington, DC).

Publications

Texts & Book-Length Publications

  • Southern Africa’s Blue Economy: Regional Cooperation for Sustained Development. London: Routledge Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2023.
  • Economic Transformation in sub-Saharan Africa: The Way Forward. London: Routledge Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2021.
  • The Blue Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Working for a Sustainable Future (editor). London: Routledge Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2021.
  • Microeconomics: Principles and Applications (Sixth Edition).  With James Willis & Martin Primack.  Redding, Calif: CT Publishing, 1997 (First Edition, 1988, Second Edition 1989, Third Edition 1993, Fourth Edition, 1994, Fifth Edition 1996). [These editions are updates and revisions of previous editions by Willis and Primack.  Sparks’ contribution was adding new material, updating, and revising.]
  • Namibia: The Nation After Independence.   (With December Green) Boulder: Westview Press, 1992.
  • Namibia:  Industrial Development at Independence  (Industrial Development Review Series).  (Principle author)   Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 1990.
  • Macroeconomics: Principles and Applications. With James Willis & Martin Primack.  Redding, Calif: CAT  Publishing, 1989. [This edition is an update of a previous edition by Willis and Primack.  Sparks’ contribution was adding new material, updating, and revising.]
  • Marine Resources as a Base for Industrial Development: Problems and Prospects in The Western Indian Ocean Island States.  Consultant Report (Principle author). Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 1985.
  • Namibia's Future:  The Economy at Independence. (With Roger Murray)  (EIU Special Report Number 197) London: The  Economist Intelligence Unit, 1985.
  • Final Report:  Regional Workshop for Coastal and Marine Management and Protection in East Africa and the Indian Ocean. Charleston, SC: South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium/International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 1984.
  • Programme for Action:  Report on a Management Strategy for the Conservation and Development of Coastal and Marine Resources in East Africa and the Indian Ocean Region (edited, with James Dobbin and Dan Finn), Charleston, SC:  South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium/International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 1984.

PEER REVIEWED Journal Articles

  • “The Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063: Implications for Economic Integration in Africa”, in Research in Applied Economics, Volume 8, Number 4, December 2016, p.12-40.
  • “Preventing Premature Deindustrialization in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Importance of the Road Transportation Sector”, in Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, April 2016, p. 218-234.
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  • “Will Sub-Saharan Africa Meet the Millennium Development Goals and Does it Matter?”, in Research in Applied Economics, Volume 5, Number 1, March 2013, p. 98-107.
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  • “Large Scale Land Acquisitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: The New Scramble? “, in International Business and Economic Research Journal, Volume 11, Number 6, June 2012, p.687-696  .
  • “India and China’s Growing Economic Involvement in Sub-Saharan Africa”, in Journal of African Studies and Development, April 2011.
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  • “The Informal Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: Out of the Shadows to Foster Sustainable Employment and Equity?” [With Steve Barnett], International Business and Economics Research Journal, Volume 9, Number 5, May 2010, p.1-11.
  • “The Challenge of Assessing Faculty Intellectual Contributions” [with Steve Barnett], E-Business Review, Volume IX, 2009, p. 15-21.
  • “Electronic Payments in Sub Saharan Africa: Will Mobile Telephony Accounts Systems be the Next Leapfrog Technology for Development?”, International Review of Business Research Papers, Volume 4, Number 1, January 2008, p.325-336.
  • “US-European Relations: How Perceptions Differ”, in Evropske Povezave (Institute of Management, University of Slovenia), Volume 7, p.53-66, 2005.
  • “The Future of Monetary Integration in Southern Africa: Lessons from the European Monetary Union?” [with Richard Dutu]  in Journal of African Policy Studies. Volume 10, Number 1, 2004, p.19-53.
  • "Globalization and Sub-Saharan Africa: Will the Promise of Shared Prosperity Ever be Realized?", Journal of African Policy Studies. Volume 9, Number 1, 2003, p.71-81 [Earlier version published in the Proceedings of Annual Research Conference, American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt, 2003, p.49-58]
  • “The Future of Monetary Integration in Southern Africa: Should SADC Join the Rand Monetary Area?” in Malliaris, M and Anastasios, M (eds). The Global Economy: Financial, Monetary, Trade and Knowledge Asymmetries. Toronto: APF Press, 2003, p.110-125.
  • “Developing the Mining and Tourism Sectors in Namibia: Providing Lessons for the Region”, Economic Digest, the Journal of the Economics Association of Swaziland, Volume 7,  Number 4, December 1996, p.1-16.
  • "The Peace Dividend: Southern Africa After Apartheid”, in Indicator South Africa, Volume 10, Number 2, Autumn, 1993,  p. 27-32.
  • "The Economic Consequences for Southern Africa after Apartheid: The Regional Costs and Benefits", in Economic Digest, Quarterly Journal of the Economics Association of Swaziland,  Volume 3, Number 2, June 1992, p. 15-72.
  • "Namibia's Coastal and Marine Resources Potential" in African Affairs, The Journal of the Royal African Society, January 1985, p. 477-496.

 Book Chapters

  • “Economic Trends in Africa South of the Sahara", in Africa South of the Sahara 2024 (54thEdition) London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2023, p.3-15. Chapters in previous editions:  2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988.
  • “The Blue Economy: What is Possible? What is Likely?”, in Sparks, The Blue Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. London: Routledge Press, 2021.
  • “The Southern African Development Community: Toward a Deeper and Wider Union?” in Looney, Robert (ed), The Handbook of International Trade Agreements: World Integration or Division?. London: Taylor and Francis Group, 2018, p. 359-372.
  • "Lesotho: Economy", in Africa South of the Sahara 2018 (47th Edition) London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2017, p. 649-653. Chapter in previous editions:  2016, 2015, 2014, 2013.
  • "Malawi: Economy", in Africa South of the Sahara 2018 (47th Edition) London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2017, p. 756-761. Chapter in previous editions:  2016, 2015, 2014, 2013.
  • "Mauritius: Economy", in Africa South of the Sahara 2018 (47th Edition) London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2017 p. 827-832. Chapters in previous editions:  2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988.
  • "Namibia: Economy", in Africa South of the Sahara 2018 (47th Edition) London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2016, p. 890-895. Chapters in previous editions: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011,  2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988.
  • "Seychelles: Economy", in Africa South of the Sahara 2018 (47th Edition) London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2016, p. 1074-1077. Chapters in previous editions:  2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988.
  • “Swaziland: Economy”, in Africa South of the Sahara 2018 (47th Edition) London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2017, p.1231-1235. Chapters in previous editions: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996.
  • "Madagascar", in Oxford Companion to Politics of the World (3rd Edition). New York: Oxford University Press, 2011, p. 553-554.
  • "Indian Ocean Region", in Oxford Companion to Comparative Politics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, p. 571-573.
  • "Swaziland", in The World Book Encyclopedia, 2004.
  • "Indian Ocean Region", in Oxford Companion to Politics of the World (2nd edition). New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, p. 388-390.
  • "Madagascar", in Oxford Companion to Politics of the World (2nd edition). New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, p. 514-515.
  • "Indian Ocean Region", in Oxford Companion to Politics of the World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 418-421.
  • "Madagascar", in Oxford Companion to Politics of the World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 553-554.
  • "Reunion: History", in Africa South of the Sahara 1988 (17th Edition) London: Europa Publications,  1987, p.796-797.
  • "Reunion: Economy", in Africa South of the Sahara, 1988  (17th Edition) London: Europa Publications, 1987, p. 797-798.
  • "Seychelles: Recent History", in Africa South of the Sahara, 1988 (17th Edition) London: Europa Publications, 1987, p. 846-848.
  • "Regional Coastal and Marine Conservation Efforts in East Africa and the Indian Ocean", in Stone, J C, Africa and the Sea. (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University, 1985), p. 304-317.

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