Africa’s consumer market has large potentials. 1.3 billion people live in Africa and the population is expected by the United Nations to increase to 2.5 billion by 2050. The working-class population in Africa is growing by 2.7 percent each year (compared to 1.3 percent in Latin America and 1.2 percent in Southeast Asia). McKinsey projects that by 2025 two-thirds of the estimated 303 million African households will have discretionary income and consumer spending will reach $2.1 trillion.[1] Not surprisingly, many firms and investors try to tap into Africa’s consumer market.

This course tries to train students’ global intelligence, i.e. the understand of specific cultural aspects of different consumer markets by analyzing the potential and challenges of Africa’s consumer markets – in the case of Ghana. Ghana is a West African country with 28 million inhabitants which is expected to be one of the fastest growing country in the world with 8.9 percent projected GDP growth in 2018 (Brookings estimations).[2] While most of the growth can be attributed to oil and cocoa, its consumer market is also growing fast. It is considered one of the safest and most stable countries in sub-Sahara Africa. But the country shares similar demographic and consumer characteristics than its neighbors: About half of income earners are young (between 16 and 34 years old) and aware and eager to try new products.

The students will work in groups on a project with an organization in Ghana that is consumer facing. Through work with the Ghana partner firm and interviews with consumer in Ghana, the students should develop ideas for solutions to the Ghana partner firms. The firms in Ghana will come from different industry ranging from a Doughnut producer to a computer gaming firm. The projects are time-consuming and students are expected to spend a significant amount of time in NY working on those projects. In-country, students will spend about 3-4 days working with the partner firm and prepare a presentation to the leadership of those companies. As a return to the hard work on these projects, students will get a truly multicultural immersion experience in Africa working on a project. Travel to Accra will take place March 12-23, 2019

Global Immersion Program classes bridge classroom lessons and business practices in another country. These three credit classes meet for half a term in New York prior to a one week visit to the country of focus where students will meet with business executives and government officials while working on team projects. Upon return from the travel portion of the class, students may have one wrap up meeting at Columbia Business School.  The 2018-2019 Global Immersion Program fee for most classes is $1850 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, ground transportation and some meals; unless an increased fee is otherwise specified in the course description. It does not cover roundtrip international airfare. Attendance both in New York and in-country and regular participation are a crucial part of the learning experience and as such attendance is mandatory. Students who miss the first class meeting may be removed from the course.  No program fee refunds will be given after the add/drop period has closed. Please visit the Chazen Institute website to learn more about the Global Immersion Program, and visit the Global Immersion Policies page to review policies affecting these courses.

Stephan Meier

James P. Gorman Professor of Business; Chair of Management Division

Stephan Meier is currently the chair of the Management Division and the James P. Gorman Professor of Business at Columbia Business School. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Zurich, was previously a senior economist at the Center for Behavioral Economics and Decision-Making at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and taught courses on strategic interactions and economic policy at...

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