Economic growth and democratic decline: the ‘cotton king’ who reshaped Benin

Patrice Talon has transformed the west African country’s economy and infrastructure at the expense of political freedom In recent years, a building boom has reshaped Benin’s largest city, Cotonou, and a shiny new coastal road has reduced journey times to Ouidah, the west African

Patrice Talon has transformed the west African country’s economy and infrastructure at the expense of political freedom In recent years, a building boom has reshaped Benin’s largest city, Cotonou, and a shiny new coastal road has reduced journey times to Ouidah, the west African country’s spiritual and cultural capital. In the last decade, Benin’s annual GDP has grown from 3% to 6%, a regional high, and an industrial zone has been launched north-west of Cotonou to help industrialise the relatively small nation’s largely informal economy. Continue reading...