Rethinking Lewis Development Model and the Nigerian Development Question.

Abstract

This work revisits the Lewis Dual sector model of economic development and growth. The focus is on its applicability or otherwise to Nigeria. Adopting a classical theory of “unlimited supply of labour” in rural, subsistence agriculture and transferring it to modern, urban capitalist sector; Lewis sought to explain a path for growth and development for LDCs. For clarity, this paper is structured into five interrelated sections. The first section dwells on the background (educational and career) of the proponent of our theory. The second section succinctly gives the operational definition of the key concepts within the understanding of Sir Aurthur Lewis. The third section distilled properly the fundamental theses and assumptions of the model. The fourth and most important section dwells extensively on the model with Nigeria in focus. Obviously, Lewis model when carefully studied reveals some manifest contradictions. His wage determinism is flawed, creation of homogeneity is challenges with the emergence of a new duality of the formal and informal sectors everywhere instead of a developed capitalist sector, food shortage crisis and its implication for industrialization for the Nigeria raises it arrowhead, and the misconception of reinvestment of appropriated profits tints this model with flaws not appropriate for emerging economies. This paper adopts a purely qualitative method. In all we recommend “unlimited supply of land” and mechanized agriculture for balanced sectoral growth for Nigeria.