Shanta Devarajan, Chief Economist of the South Asia Region at the World Bank, has recently started a blog to "create a conversation around how South Asia can end poverty in a generation". Its name: End Poverty in South Asia
Paul Krugman has also started blogging at the New York Times.
Welcome to the blogosphere !
Tue, 10/09/2007 - 11:09
While Asia has made great strides over the last decade in raising macroeconomic growth, there are increasing concerns about its inclusiveness. There were several interesting articles in e-newsline (http://www.adbi.org/e-newsline/) about growing incoming disparity in countries such as India, China and Vietnam. I suppose the real question is how much of the wealth will trickle down to those in need through job creation and better social infrastructure.
Tue, 09/25/2007 - 17:17
From the desk of Dr. Sidney Okolo…
It is easier said than done when statements such as “End poverty in South East Asia†is raised. It is also important to realize that most citizens in this region are naïve, rigid, and conservative that changing the landscape, infrastructure, market structure, and economic structure of the region will require encroaching into private and family properties and land, which most of the citizens in the region may not accept or reject outright. If encroachment is done without adequate consultations, rebellious actions may likely occur in the region, which is most common in developing countries due to poverty, instability, ethnicity, and sectarianism. These problems need to be considered before the process of “ending poverty in the S.E. Asia†commences.
The process of ending poverty will require the support of the key players in the region, the elders of the region, politicians, religious and ethnic groups, behavior modification of the individuals due to culture, their ways of thinking, and beliefs. Although, they may be poor, they may not be willing to give up their lands and properties for construction of new roads, markets, and good economy. They need to be educated in this area, be informed that they cannot have their cakes and eat them too.
Only when these are achieved, will the actual development process begins. This process will require community development, leadership training, mentoring and coaching of the tribal or ethnic leaders, politicians, and different sectarian leaders. Also private, public, and foreign investment will be solicited in order for this goal to efficiently and effectively be achieved. The involvement of United Nations and World Bank may be sought because of the enormity of the project. The region may need to be kept in check for instability and chaos, which may arise from not evenly distributing wealth or funds to all citizens during the development period. One does not expect a poor man, who reluctantly gave up his land and/or properties not to receive any compensations and continuously share some of the funds allocated to his region. The land represents wealth use for farming and/or grazing. So, one-time compensation may not be sufficient for these kinds of people.
Decision-making will involve cross-cultural negotiations in order to avoid conflicts and collision of cultures and beliefs, which affects it through “a society’s institutions and individual’s risk toleranceâ€. Be alert for resolution of any conflict if it arises, because the involvement of the western countries in some of the Islamic countries in the region may be of concern for those countries that may think the west has come to stay.
Lastly, experts will be hired, and projections done before any project takes off in order to “end poverty in South East Asiaâ€.
Dr. Sidney O. Okolo, Ph.D., Organization and Management
Professor. Consultant. Business Strategist, Africa Expert.
International Business Associate, Inc.
Indiana Wesleyan University
Ph: 312-671-4721; eFax: (425) 671-1282
chicagoassets@netzero.net
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ibaweb
Thu, 09/20/2007 - 16:54
As whole the World Bank needs to partner with a wider audience of international aid organizations to address this global problem. Without reaching out for a greater audience, the World Bank will miss vital opportunities and channels that can be accessed to address such issues.