Paul Collier and others, including Jim Crust, are now blogging. The site is new (like Social Enterprising) and so there's not much material on it yet, but it's still worth a visit.
Collier is the author of the 2007 bestselling book, The Bottom Billion. (Here's a review of the book by historian Niall Ferguson from the NYTimes.) There are parts of The Bottom Billion that I like quite a lot -- Collier's repackaging, in manageable form, of his important work on conflict and development -- and some things with which I disagree -- would another UN Charter provide meaningful incentives for governments to operate more openly and transparently? maybe, maybe not. And, there are some important issues I think he just does not address in this book, most noticeably to me: what role do on-the-ground entrepreneurs play in promoting development and positive institutional change? Nonetheless, it's an important book that stakes a middle ground between Jeffrey Sachs and William Easterly.
It's a welcome addition to have this new blog and to see what Collier and his colleagues are finding exciting in Africa and elsewhere.
- Karol
3 comments:
I would love it if I could get a brief statement on what positions Sachs and Easterly occupy on the spectrum.
Is Sachs' position that aid would work-- the world has just never coughed up enough of it?
Kate, fantastic question. This is a topic that I think we'll be exploring quite a bit here on Social Enterprising. As an initial matter, check out this BBC article from a few years ago - it concisely lays out the arguments from both sides.
Can Aid Bring An End to Poverty?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5407770.stm
This will be an excellent blog! I found this to be an excellent examination of aid policies. It is difficult, however, not to want to look more closely at the young (and the effects of a lack of substantial education and adequate health care) and the income inequalities that exist. Other factors were given greater consideration. With discussion of the Lugar-Casey bill picking up steam in the US Congress, there could be some very interesting conversations happening in the States. Yesterday I covered a hearing at Foreign Relations on global ag development. Here is a bit: http://www.america.gov/st/foraid-english/2009/March/20090318094012mmkcirreh0.5831873.html?CP.rss=true
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