ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

by David Nuttle

The world's 2-billion plus poor, of a global population of just over 8-billion, are known to be impoverished primarily due to the following issues:

a) Governments of many developing nations are known to be corrupt and incompetent.

b) Development programs are not always inclusive, and some populations live in social and economic as well as political isolation.

c) Funds and resources are diverted to benefit a dictator.

d) There is limited investments in education, job training, entrepreneurship, new business starts, and healthcare.

e) Private investment is low and incentives to invest are lacking.

f) Means to compensate for limited resources and climate change negatives are ineffective.

g) Efforts at safety net creation and poverty reduction are very poor.

h) Poor health care creates a population in poor health reducing work capabilities.

i) National debts are high, and loan funds were not effectively used.

j) Excessive debt is being created for future generations to alienate youth.

k) Unresolved national conflict issues require costly defense spending.

l) The rule of law is often lacking, and many government funds are diverted to private Swiss bank accounts of national leaders.

m) Leaders who are dictators often demand extensive luxuries at public expense.

n) Extreme poverty results in increased criminal and narco-terrorist activities making public safety, of any nation, far more costly.

0) Part of the population is restricted from participation in national development as Taliban terrorists do to women in Afghanistan.

I have detailed some of the above problems in other blogs here; e. g. President Diem, of S. Vietnam, allowing his government officials to freely take 10 percent of whatever they got their hands on.

The reasons for extensive global poverty are obvious, and innovative means are urgently needed to create effective solutions. Impoverished populations are exploited to support armed conflicts, and the poor deter achievement of global peace!!