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BBC: Economic Solidarity for a Crowded Planet
About: Economic Solidarity for a Crowded Planet
After 12 years of feeling that this country goes further into intellectual "tribalism", it is always refreshing to be continuously stimulated by the ABC programs. The following is one of such programs; a lecture from BBC entitled "Economic Solidarity for a Crowded Planet" by Jeffrey Sachs.
Rather than placing the blame on poor countriesunder whatever reason, but mainly corruptionSachs focuses in what rich countries need to do to assist and redress the problem of poverty. About corruption, Sachs cites figures to demonstrate that corruption alone is not the reason why these African countries are poor, and that the rich nations have done not nearly enough as was promised.
Something I found particularly important is the direct relationship that Sachs finds between nations who care about their own poor and their capacity to assist the world poor. In other words, societies where citizens are protected by their governments, tend to be more able to extend a helping hand to othersthe US would be the exact opposite in this regard.
After 12 years of feeling that this country goes further into intellectual "tribalism", it is always refreshing to be continuously stimulated by the ABC programs. The following is one of such programs; a lecture from BBC entitled "Economic Solidarity for a Crowded Planet" by Jeffrey Sachs.
Rather than placing the blame on poor countriesunder whatever reason, but mainly corruptionSachs focuses in what rich countries need to do to assist and redress the problem of poverty. About corruption, Sachs cites figures to demonstrate that corruption alone is not the reason why these African countries are poor, and that the rich nations have done not nearly enough as was promised.
"Consider the fact that nine developing countries - with two in Africa - were tied with exactly the same corruption score in this year's Transparency International index. Specifically, Ghana and Senegal were assessed to be at the same level of corruption as Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Mexico, Peru, and Saudi Arabia. Yet the two African countries have life expectancies of around 56 years, while all but one of the other countries have life expectancies of more than 70 years. On average, for countries with comparable corruption levels, Africa's life expectancy rates are nearly 20 years below the rest of the world's."
Something I found particularly important is the direct relationship that Sachs finds between nations who care about their own poor and their capacity to assist the world poor. In other words, societies where citizens are protected by their governments, tend to be more able to extend a helping hand to othersthe US would be the exact opposite in this regard.
Sachs proposes some interesting solutions to world poverty, what do you think about these?"Five countries of Northern Europe have long met the 0.7 percent of GNP commitment. These are: Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The European Union has now promised, once again, to do so by 2015. Yet the European Union obviously agonizes in this promise. The U.S. doesn't even agonize. It doesn't even try. The US will spend $600 billion on the military this year, but only $4 billion on African development. Moreover, senior U.S. officials vigorously reject the global standard of 0.7 percent in aid, even though the U.S. government signed on to that international target.
The striking thing about the aid performance is the very strong correlation between a country's international aid and its care for the poor at home. Countries that take care of their own poor also tend to help the world's poor. Countries that neglect their own poor tend to walk away from their international responsibilities as well.(...)"
Find this lecture: BBC - Reith Lectures 2007, Lecture 4: Economic Solidarity for a Crowded Planet"My suggestions on Economic Solidarity therefore are the following.
First, let us embrace market economics - yes - but also recognize that free market economics are passé. We need an active role of the state, to help the poorest to break free of the poverty trap, and to help narrow the inequalities of a high-income market society.
Let us understand that economic solidarity is insurance for all, the poor and the rich. Our societies can be both productive and safe. If we invest in solidarity, we will also end up with a more caring society. It's not our poor versus the poor abroad. It is help and solidarity with both. (...)"
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