Human capabilities and the evolutionary prospects for systems of innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper examines contending views on the concept of capabilities, counterpoised to the neoclassical definition of human capital and its neoliberal appropriation in the conceptualisation of the role of people in economic systems. This argument is developed within the framework of the systems of innovation approach to economic dynamics, and its relevance to the development of national systems of innovation in sub-Saharan Africa is assessed. The historical and institutional roots of the human capabilities shortfall are discussed, as well as the implications of this bottleneck for the evolutionary prospects for national systems of innovation, specifically in terms of their ability to shift onto a self-sustainable growth and development path.