This work investigates the structural economic shifts and the transition to commercial agriculture within British West Africa during the early twentieth century. Allan McPhee, writing from the perspective of a colonial administrator and economist, examines the impact of infrastructure development, such as railways and ports, on local trade patterns. He argues that the integration of West African economies into the global market was driven by specific administrative policies and the expansion of cash crop production. The text provides a detailed analysis of the transition from traditional subsistence systems to export-oriented economic models.

Historians and economists frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the colonial economic framework of the region. Scholars note the density of the administrative data provided, which serves as a primary reference for the economic conditions of British West Africa during the interwar period.