RESEARCH 

Publications

  Peer-Reviewed Journals

• Avenyo, E.K., Bell, J.F. & Nyamwena, J. (2024). Determinants of digital technologies’ adoption in South African manufacturing: Evidence from a firm-level survey. South African Journal of Economics 2024:1–25. http://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12378

• Osei, D., Konte, M., & Avenyo, E. K. (2024). Escaping Corruption in the Demand for Public Services in Africa- The Dual Nature of Civic Networks. World Development, 177, 106541.

• Mazzi, C. T., Ndubuisi, G., & Avenyo, E. K. (2024). Learning-by-exporting in South Africa: The influence of global value chain (GVC) participation and technological capability. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, DOI: 10.1080/20421338.2023.2295631

• Avenyo, E.K. (2023). Learning to innovate in urban informal enterprises of Ghana: Role of apprenticeship and formal interaction. Scientific African, 20, e01740.

• Avenyo, E.K., & Tregenna, F. (2022). Greening manufacturing: Technology intensity and carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries. Applied Energy, 324: 119726.

• Goga, S. & Avenyo, E.K. (2022). Industrial policy, the manufacturing sector and black empowerment in South Africa. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa Transformation, 109, 80-111.

• Balde, R., Boly, M., & Avenyo, E.K. (2021). Effects of COVID-19 on the labor market in sub-Saharan Africa: analysis through the prism of informality in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. Revue d'économie du développement (Journal of Development Economics), 1-2 (29) , 43 - 84.

• Ward, J. L., Azzopardi, P. S., Francis, K. L., Santelli, J. S., Skirbekk, V., ... Avenyo, E. K., ... & Constantin, T. V. (2021). Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10–24 years, 1950–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 398 (10311), 1593-1618.

• Fu, X., Avenyo, E.K., &. Ghauri, P. (2021). Digital platforms and development: a survey of the literature. Innovation and Development, 11 (2-3): 173-187. https://doi.org/10.1080/2157930X.2021.1975361

• Avenyo, E.K., & Kraemer-Mbula, E. (2021). Innovation and the performance of informal enterprises in developing countries: A gender perspective. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 13 (4): 277-301. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-11-2020-0174

• Avenyo, E.K., Tregenna, F., & Kraemer-Mbula, E. (2021). Do Productive Capabilities Affect Export Performance? Evidence from African Firms. The European Journal of Development Research, 33: 304–329.

• Avenyo, E.K., Francois, J.N., & Zinyemba, T.P. (2021). On gender and spatial gaps in Africa’s informal sector: Evidence from urban Ghana. Economics Letters, 199, 109732.

• Avenyo, E.K., Konte, M., & Mohnen, P. (2021). Product innovations and informal market competition in sub-Saharan Africa: Firm-level evidence. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 31 (2): 605–637.

• Avenyo, E.K., & Ndubuisi, G. (2020). Coping During COVID-19: Family Businesses and Social Assistance in Nigeria. ISSUE 51 Covid Economics: Vetted and Real-Time Papers, pages 159-184. CEPR Press: Geneva.

• Avenyo, E.K., Mohnen, P., & Konte, M. (2019). The employment impact of product innovations in sub-Saharan Africa: Firm-level evidence. Research Policy 48 (9): 103806.

Report Contributions

• Andreoni, A. & Avenyo, E.K. (August 2023). Critical Minerals and Routes to Diversification in Africa: Linkages, Pulling Dynamics and Opportunities in Medium-High Tech Supply Chains. Background paper commissioned by the UNCTAD secretariat for the 2023 edition of the Economic Development in Africa Report. UNCTAD: United Nations.

• Andreoni, A. & Avenyo, E.K. (August 2023). Critical Minerals and Routes to Diversification in Africa: Opportunities for Diversification into Renewable Energy Technologies - The Case of Morocco. Background paper commissioned by the UNCTAD secretariat for the 2023 edition of the Economic Development in Africa Report. UNCTAD: United Nations.

• Andreoni, A. & Avenyo, E.K. (August 2023). Critical Minerals and Routes to Diversification in Africa: Opportunities for Diversification into Batteries and Fuel Cells and Mining Equipment Technologies - The Case of South Africa. Background paper commissioned by the UNCTAD secretariat for the 2023 edition of the Economic Development in Africa Report. UNCTAD: United Nations.

• Andreoni, A. & Avenyo, E.K. (August 2023). Critical Minerals and Routes to Diversification in Africa: Opportunities for diversification into Mobile Phone Technologies - The Case of Democratic Republic of Congo. Background paper commissioned by the UNCTAD secretariat for the 2023 edition of the Economic Development in Africa Report. UNCTAD: United Nations.

• Avenyo, E.K., Chien, C.L., Hollanders, H., Marins, L., Schaaper, M., & Verspagen, B. (2015). Tracking trends in innovation and mobility. In UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030, Chapter 2 (57-83). UNESCO Publishings: Paris, France.

Working Papers

• Bell, J., Goga, S,, Muzyamba, C., Nyamwena, J. & Avenyo, E.K. (August 2023).  Navigating the European Union’s Green Deal in at-risk agro-food sectors in South Africa: Case of citrus and wine. CCRED Working Paper 2023/02: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E. K. and Nyamwena, J. (2023). Digital capabilities in South African manufacturing firms: What matters? CCRED-IDTT Working Paper 2023/06: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E. K., Bosiu, T. and Nyamwena, J. (2023). Localisation in South Africa: Analysis of key emerging issues. CCRED-IDTT Working Paper 2023/01: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E.K and Bell, J. (2022). Disruptive Technologies and Manufacturing Performance in South Africa: Firm-Level Evidence. The African Economic Research Consortium Working Paper 2022/004: Nairobi.

• Avenyo, E.K, Mensah, E.B., Ndubuisi, G. and Sakyi, D. (2022). Global Value Chain Participation and Innovation: Firm-Level Evidence from Africa. The African Economic Research Consortium Working Paper 2022/012: Nairobi.

• Avenyo, E.K, Bell, J.F., Mondliwa, P. and Nyamwena, J. (2022). An assessment of the state of the chemical industry: Industry 4.0 perspective. CCRED-IDTT Working Paper 2022/07: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E.K, Bell, J.F., Mondliwa, P. and Nyamwena, J. (2022). An assessment of the state of fibre processing and manufacturing SETA in the context of industry 4.0. CCRED-IDTT Working Paper 2022/08: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E.K., Bell, J.F. & Nyamwena, J. (2022). Determinants of digital technologies’ adoption in South African manufacturing: Evidence from a firm-level survey. CCRED-IDTT Working Paper 2022/02: Johannesburg.

• Goga, S. & Avenyo, E.K. (2021). Industrial Policy, the Manufacturing Sector and Black Empowerment in South Africa. Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) Working Paper: BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROJECT.

• Avenyo, E.K., Bell, J.F., Nyamwena, J. and Robb, N. (2021). Identifying vulnerable and priority manufacturing sectors for economic recovery in South Africa: An empirical approach. CCRED-IDTT Working Paper 2021/05: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E.K. (2021). Learning and Product Innovation Performance in Informal Enterprises: Evidence from Urban Ghana. Munich Personal RePEc Archive Paper 108839.

• Avenyo, E.K., Tregenna, F., & Ngwadleka, K. (May 2021). ‘Learning to export’ and ‘learning to innovate’: Revisiting the relationship between innovation and exports in African firms. Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) Working paper 861.

• Avenyo, E.K., & Tregenna, F. (January 2021). The effects of technology intensity in manufacturing on CO2 emissions: Evidence from developing countries. Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) Working paper 846.

• Avenyo, E.K, Francois, J.N., & Zinyemba, T. (2020). COVID-19, Lockdowns, and Africa's Informal Sector: Lessons from Ghana. UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series, Number 2020-028: United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

• Mazzi, C. T., Ndubuisi, G., & Avenyo, E. (2020). Exporters and global value chain participation: Firm-level evidence from South Africa. WIDER Working Paper 2020/145. Helsinki: UNU-WIDER.

• Balde, R., Boly, M., & Avenyo, E. (2020). Labour market effects of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: An informality lens from Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series, Number 2020-022: United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

• Avenyo, E., Mohnen, P., & Konte, M. (2019). The employment impact of product innovations in sub-Saharan Africa: Firm-level evidence. UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series, Number 2019-019: United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

• Avenyo, E. (2018). Informal innovations in urban Ghana: Data set and descriptive analysis. UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series, Number 2019-30: United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

• Ndubuisi, G., & Avenyo, E. K. (2018). Estimating the effects of robotization on exports. UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series, Number 2018-046: United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT). 

• Al Raee, M., Amoateng, E., Avenyo, E.K., Beshay, Y., Bierbaum, M., Keijser, C., & Sinha, R. (2014). Millennium Development Goals: Tool or token of global social governance? UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series, Number 2014-024: United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT). 

Policy Briefs/Opinion Pieces

• Ayanore, M., Avenyo, E.K. and Osei, D. (November 2023). Catastrophic Effects of COVID-19 Health Expenditure Shocks and Multidimensional Poverty in Ghana: What Financing Mechanisms Mattered? AERC Policy Brief: November 2023 / AHCV-PB-007.

• Nyamwena, J. and Avenyo, E. K. (2023). Financing digital industrialisation in South Africa: Emerging issues. CCRED-IDTT Policy Brief 2023/05: Johannesburg.

• Nyamwena, J., Avenyo, E. K. and Bosiu, T. and (2023). Localisation and industrialization nexus: Lessons for South Africa. CCRED-IDTT Policy Brief 2023/01: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E.K., & Tregenna, F. (February 2023). Climate change mitigation for late industrialisers: The role of technology intensity in manufacturing. Centre for Business and Development Studies. Centre for Business and Development Studies. Policy Brief No. February 2023.

• Avenyo, E.K., Bell, J. & Nyamewema, J. (2022, July). Implications of COVID-19 on Digital Transformation in South Africa. CCRED-IDTT Policy Brief 2022/07.

• Chisoro, S. & Avenyo, E.K. (2022). Digital industrialisation of freshness. CCRED-IDTT Policy Brief 2022/09: Johannesburg.

• Avenyo, E.K & Bell, J. (2022). Digital Technology Adoption and Performance in South African Manufacturing Firms: Early Evidence for Policy. The African Economic Research Consortium Policy Brief 2022/004: Nairobi.

• Andreoni, A., & Avenyo, E.K. (2021, 2nd December). South Africa is failing to ride the digital revolution wave. What it needs to do. The Conversation.

• Balde, R., & Avenyo, E.K. (2021, 7th September). Informal workers in Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso have been hit harder by COVID-19. The Conversation.

• Avenyo, E.K., Bell, J., Nyamewema, J. & Robb, N. (2021, July). Awakening industrial economic recovery in South Africa. CCRED-IDTT Policy Brief.

• Avenyo, E.K., & Bell, J. (2021, 4th March). South Africa’s path to the 4IR – the role of digital skills. Engineering News, Creamer Media.

In Progress

• ICT, Formality, and Employment Growth of Manufacturing Enterprises: Evidence from Ghana  (Co-authored with Xiaolan Fu). 

• High Technology Exports as a Pathway to Industrial Development & Growth: Evidence from African countries (Co-authored with Rexford Asiamah).

• Techniques for the Valuation of Technologies: A systematic review of the literature (Co-authored with Shaomeng Li and Xiaolan Fu).

• Are makers the new 'alternative'? Evidence from Africa’s maker spaces (Co-authored with Erika Kraemer-Mbula). 

Thesis Supervision

• Santos Necas Bila (2022-2025). Essays on industrialisation, global value chains, innovation, and environmental quality in Africa. PhD in Economics, Department if Economics and Econometrics, University of Johannesburg. Role: Co-supervisor (Main Supervisor: Prof Fiona Tregenna).

• Jamiil Jeetoo (2021/2022). Contribution of switching costs and network effects to consumer lock-in in mobile telephony in Mauritius. Master of Commerce in Competition and Economic Regulation, Department if Economics and Econometrics, University of Johannesburg. Role: Co-supervisor.

• Aaliyah Vally (2021/2022). Contribution of switching costs and network effects to consumer lock-in in mobile telephony in Mauritius. Master of Commerce in Competition and Economic Regulation, Department if Economics and Econometrics, University of Johannesburg. Role: Co-supervisor.

• Kwanele Ngwadleka (2019). Does innovation affect export performance: A firm-level analysis for three Southern African countries. Master of Commerce in Development Economics, Department of Economics and Econometrics, University of Johannesburg. Role: Co-supervisor, with Professor Fiona Tregenna as Supervisor.

• Ebenezer Kwesi Hamilton (2016).  The Effect of Pensions on The Social Welfare of the Elderly’s Household in Ghana. Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG) M.Sc. Public Policy and Human Development Master’s Thesis. Role: Supervisor.

Journal Reviews

• European Journal of Development Research. Role: Reviewer

• Structural Change and Economic Dynamics. Role: Reviewer

• Review of Development Economics. Role: Reviewer

• Journal of Institutional Economics. Role: Reviewer

• Small Business Economics: An Entrepreneurship Journal. Role: Reviewer

• Research Policy. Role: Reviewer

• African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development. Role: Reviewer