Charter Cities

Paul Romer explains an idea that may seem radical but has proven effective looking back in history; Introducing, the Charter City!

The power of a picture...

This picture of former U.S President Bill Clinton alongside the leader of North Korea is scarcely believable isn't it? The former "leader" of the free world and the man who probably has the tightest grip on a people sat next to each other, posing for the world to see. In a recent TED talk, Prime minister Gordon Brown of Britain highlights the interconnectedness that exists in today's world. It is an interconnectedness that will allow us to tackle some of the world's toughest problems, including climate change, conflict, poverty and the economy. The Scot was very eloquent and his points are well presented. But is our interconnectedness something that can be used by some of the world's more rogue elements for their own gain?

Th picture above was taken after North Korea's leader met with president Clinton over the release of 2 American journalists accused of spying by North Korea. They had been detained since March and negotiations have been going on since then but the Koreans wanted a high profile representative of the United States to ensure the release of the journalists. Bill Clinton was accaeptible and some are saying that the whole thing is a propaganda opportunity for North Korea, and namely Kim Jong Il himself. There is speculation that acquesing to the demands of the Koreans may mean further detentions/kidnaps by the autocratic government, but then again the reporters needed to be rescued. A wider question is whether this can be seen as a first step to re-entering discussions on the nuclear question. The Koreans seem intent on using back channels, is this the future of relations between the country and its powerful rivals?

*People like Osama bin Laden have utilized imagery to glorify their cause and make them look as scary as possible to those out of the loop. It is quit possible that Osama may not control as huge network of terror as we might imagine, but his communiques and legendary statements provide enough inspiration to other terrorist groups who may claim allegiance to him.


Osama doesn't have to pay a whole lot for advertising

Conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Refugee Resettlement - A blessing?

I just finished watching the documentary: "God Grew Tired of Us" The doc features a group of Sudanese refugees popularly known as the "Lost Boys." Having run away from the civil war between North and South Sudan in their thousands (26,000) at one point, the boys dwindle in number as they walk thousands of miles into neighboring Ethiopia and then Kenya. Now the life of a refugee is never easy. At the Kakuma camp they were based at in Kenya they had days when they had no food. They managed to build a community, even in these difficult conditions. They all shared the difficulty a situation where they had no idea what their futures held, where their families were or how they would be eating the next day. There are millions of refugees worldwide, mos living in squalid conditions. It is a truly dire situation that requires more urgency than what has been shown.

Refugee Resettlement is a privilege that has been extended to a small number of refugees worldwide. Resettlement to the US is particularly difficult and some of the "Lost Boys" made it to the land of Ab Lincoln and McDonald's. Their journey is chronicled by the film makers in this documentary. Their struggles with escalators, showers, fridges, shopping, winter and other "day to day" activities draws a chuckle as I marvel at their complete obliviousness to "modernity" It highlights the imbalances that exist in our world. How can we be so different?

As the film ends one feels the disconnection the refugees feel after a while in the United States. The initial excitement has disappeared, and now they really long to be back with their own community in Sudan. I can certainly relate to this feeling, having lived away from home for 3 years. They realize the superficiality of American society. They lament the lack of community in the United States, but the plight of their relatives back home helps them realize the necessity of their presence in the United States. So what may seem like a curse may ultimately be a blessing!

Blood diamonds in Zimbabwe.

Game theory in decision making

Searchers and Planners

I am currently reading the book "The White Man's Burden: Why the West's efforts to aid the rest have done so much ill and so little good," by Dr William Easterly of New York University. It is an intriguing read, it challenges conventional views that I have been raised to take as fact. He critiques the popular beliefs that are widely held around the world that for the poorer countries of the world to move out of poverty they need to adopt plans originating from the more successful countries of the world. He refers to these people as Planners. People who have a vision of what certain measures will achieve as they distribute aid to the countries in need. Easterly criticizes the likes of the IMF, the World Bank and influential individuals like Bono and Professor Jefferey Sachs. One of his main criticisms of these individuals is their use of the word "we." He points out the fact that their attitude is condescending and it discredits the merits and innovation of the people they are proposing to help.

Dr Easterly offers an alternate perspective. That of Searchers. They may be from the West or local but the idea is to promote local solutions to local problems. Of course some need a little more help than others but the idea is for solutions that are derived from finding out the true needs of people on the ground and applying lasting measures to aid the situation. This is the same searcher spirit that drove Muhammed Yunis' micro-lending idea that became Grameen bank. This approach is not as appealing for the grand speeches that call for a doubling of aid and a world rescue for the poor of the world.

Easterly shrewdly points out that the people who have been targets of various forms of aid can never hold anyone accountable if efforts to help them fail. This according to Easterly is another reason why it is easier to make grand speeches promising all manner of aid programs. Unlike elected officials Planners are not held accountable for their actions, and they cannot really be voted out of favor.

The truth is top down approaches to aid have largely failed and an alternate approach my not only be cheaper, but it might just work!