The World Bank - Working for a world free of poverty
This blog is maintained by the Growth and Crisis (GC ) Program of the World Bank Institute.
We bring you timely news, resources, tools, ideas and commentaries on issues related to the global economic crisis and growth.
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 !
Enter your email below to receive email notifications when new content is posted:
Advances in Development Economics
Macroeconomic Management
Poverty Analysis
Poverty Reduction Strategies
Gender
Fridays Academy
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Comments
As whole the World Bank
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.
From the desk of Dr. Sidney
From the desk of Dr. Sidney Okoloâ¦
It is easier said than done when statements such as âEnd poverty in South East Asiaâ 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 âending poverty in the S.E. Asiaâ 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 âa societyâs institutions and individualâs 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 âend 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
While Asia has made great
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.
Thoughts on Poverty in South Asia
No matter what part of the world your from poverty exists. However, it is one of the world's greatest issues. Help is appreciated, but it only helps for the time being, the challenge is how can we break the cycle of poverty.
My Focus is particularly in South East Asia. Food and medicine are sometime risky to deliver. The government however, are more cooperative then they used to be in the past.
If we find a way to educate the citizens of South Asia, then there is hope, for providing food, and all the essential needs.
There is hope, countries that have been communists for generations are now realizing that without some global communication and interaction, they will not survive as a country. They are begining to embrace the rest of the world, for instance the country Laos has been cooperating with governments to reduce drugs particualrly, their main exporter, opium. That has created a decline in economic growth, but they have adapted more positive ways to earn revenue for the country.
But it is obvious that in order to end poverty countries such as Laos need help and support from stronger countries to break the cycle of poverty.
Post new comment