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Category Archives: Developmental economics
Creative Capitalism
I think this is a fascinating blog, Creative Capitalism. Of Course, I am a geek. Creative Capitalism: A Conversation is a web experiment designed to produce a book — a collection of essays and commentary on capitalism, philanthropy and global … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged Developmental economics, Economics
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How Supermarkets Can End Poverty
Namibian supermarket selection (photo: Olivier Peyre) One of great inequities in the modern world is that in relative terms, food in poor and starving countries often costs far more than in the wealthy developed world. That’s because industrial countries tend … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Foreign affairs, Lee's Page
Tagged Africa, agriculture, Ashok Gulati, Asia, chains, consumers, developing, Economics, fdi, food, food prices, foreign direct investment, household, Hugo Chavez, India, inequity, International Food Policy Research Institute, Latin America, liberalization, nepal, poverty, revolution, scale, spending, supermarket, Thomas Reardon, United States, vegetables, Wal-Mart, world
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Investing at Home in Africa
(photo: William Bedzrah) One of the traditional problems of economic development in sub-Saharan Africa is that internal African investment dollars tend to be spent outside the continent. Thus it’s interesting to see Nigerian investment in Ghana has now reached $580 … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Foreign affairs, Lee's Page, Uncategorized
Tagged Africa, Chile, commerce, George Kumi, ghana, inflation, investment, monetary policy, Nigeria, profits, Russia, Switzerland, trade
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The Price of Chinese Silence
From The New York Times: Mr. Yu’s daughter had died in a cascade of concrete and bricks, one of at least 240 students at a high school here who lost their lives in the May 12 earthquake. Mr. Yu became … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Lance's Page
Tagged China, Communist Party, earthquake, totalitarianism
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Restructure State to Save It
Cross-posted from Registan.net, your one-stop shop for news and analysis of going on in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Thirteen months ago, I noted the problems caused by the U.S. State Department having dramatically different divisions than the military COCOMs. … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Foreign affairs
Tagged Domestic Politics, government, policy, State, US
5 Comments
Silent Tsunami
As an update to this previous post, be sure to read this from The Economist. Governments ought to liberalise markets, not intervene in them further. Food is riddled with state intervention at every turn, from subsidies to millers for cheap … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Peg's Page
Tagged agriculture, Developmental economics, Economics, Europe, free trade
4 Comments
Ripple Effects in the Food Trade
Posted first at Registan.net When last I touched on the global food crisis and how it is impacting Afghanistan and the rest of Central Asia, I noted that countries continuing to ban wheat exports would make the problem worse by … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Foreign affairs, regulation
Tagged Economics, food crisis, international finance, kazakhstan, monetary policy
1 Comment
What Does Wheat Mean?
Cross-posted to Registan.net, which also has lots of other commentary, news, and analysis from and about Central Asia. Paul Krugman had a mostly-good column in the New York Times the other day, exploring the world food crisis. After digging through … Continue reading
Geldof and Bush: Diary From the Road
A short portrait of President Bush from Sir Bob Geldof, on the Presidents recent trip around Africa. Really shows what we’ve been accomplishing in Africa the last several years. In 2003, only 50,000 Africans were on HIV antiretroviral drugs — … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Domestic Politics, Economics, Foreign affairs, Keith's Page
Tagged Africa, africom, Geldof, President Bush
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Tragic News for Leftists
Due to free markets, capitalism and freedom in general, the world is getting wealthier. The last quarter century has witnessed remarkable progress of mankind. The world’s per capita inflation-adjusted income rose from $5400 in 1980 to $8500 in 2005.Schooling and … Continue reading
Assasination and Democracy
The Bayesian Heresy tipped me to a profile of economist Ben Olken, who has published a couple of papers on the effect of political leaders on economic and political development: Olken wonders whether economic development and the path to democratization … Continue reading
Scrambling for Africa: A Conversation with John Ghazvinian
Gas flaring in the Niger Delta (photo: Ellie) John Ghazvinian is a journalist and historian of considerable insight into African affairs. He also happens to have written one of the best recent books on the emergent international struggle for African … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Developmental economics, Economics, Foreign affairs, Interviews, Lee's Page
Tagged Africa, Alberta, Angola, Arctic, Beijing, Bonga, business, Cabinda, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chevron, cocoa, Cold War, Congo, Domestic Politics, Dutch disease, economy, energy, Environment, ethnic nationalism, Financial Times, FPSO, Gabon, Geneva, geostrategy, ghana, guerrilla warfare, Gulf of Guinea, Houston, IMF, interview, John Ghazvinian, Joseph Kia Mboungou, kidnapping, left, memo, mercantile, Middle East, neoconservative, Niger Delta, Nigeria, offshore, oil, oil sands, oilfield trash, peak oil, petroleum engineers, post-nationalism, prostitution, reinvestment, rentier, Royal Dutch Shell, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, shale, Shell, subculture, Suez Canal, Transportation, Uganda, UK, United Nations, Washington, workers, World Bank, Zimbabwe
9 Comments
The Weekend Hit
Two weeks into my new job, I am loving it. I’m sick from sleep deprivation and brand new Midwestern pathogens (and subzero—in centigrade—temperatures!), but it’s wonderful. I can’t believe I get paid to do this… hell, I couldn’t believe I … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Foreign affairs
8 Comments
African wages, high and sticky?
Hat tip: Tyler. Chris Blattman has a conjecture, possibly high wages in Africa are holding back growth: One thing that has always struck me in the African countries I have worked is that the real wages (i.e. wages adjusted for … Continue reading
Posted in Blogs, Developmental economics, Economics, Lance's Page, social science
Tagged Africa, blog, China, Chris Blattman, government, India, NGO's, wages
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The Path to Mass Murder III
Haven’t we said this is the way things were heading once Hugo Chavez instituted price controls? Why yes we did. From CNN via Pejman President Hugo Chavez threatened on Sunday to take over farms or milk plants if owners refuse … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Foreign affairs, Hugo Chavez, Lance's Page
Tagged dictator, expropriation, Hugo Chavez, Mugabe
8 Comments
Other Countries GDP’s as US States
From Strange Maps: This is quite an education. Click for a larger image. Although the economies of countries like China and India are growing at an incredible rate, the US remains the nation with the highest GDP in the world … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged GDP, Louisiana, map, Norway, US States
8 Comments
Labour regulations in China and India: Economic Freedom in Relief
This is a stunning statistic: …the annual expansion in China’s trade has been larger than India’s total annual trade during last several years. Tyler Cowen hones in on this point, amongst a bounty of good points: The most important factor … Continue reading
Globalization: By Don Boudreaux
(Cross posted at Risk and Return) Cafe Hayek fans take note, it is finally out. Short review from Tyler Cowen: This is the best popular book explaining the benefits of international trade. Imagine Bastiat for 2008, or a Cajun updating … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Developmental economics, Economics, History, Lance's Page
Tagged Bastiat, Books, Don Boudreaux, Economics, globalization, trade, Tyler Cowen
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Milton Friedman vs. Naomi Klein
Happy New Year! To start off the year right, let’s have a look at a mock-up of a debate between Naomi Klein, reporter-activist extraordinaire, and Milton Friedman, king of economic liberty (via Instapundit). This video was put together by Devil’s … Continue reading
Some Economic Perspective
[youtube uJo7GG15kMU] Hat tip: Greg Mankiw
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Education, Lance's Page
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China: The temporary nature of what we know
In a little-noticed mid-summer announcement, the Asian Development Bank presented official survey results indicating China’s economy is smaller and poorer than established estimates say. The announcement cited the first authoritative measure of China’s size using purchasing power parity methods. The … Continue reading
The Ultimate Resource Returns
Starting this Friday, November 2nd, Free to Choose Media is continuing the work of its inspiration, Milton Friedman, of bringing the benefits of freedom to the people of this world, including its most remote corners. A new documentary, “The Ultimate … Continue reading
The Subtle Oil Shock
It hasn’t been all that shocking. Why not? Greg Mankiw supplies a few possibilities. My favorites? Well let us start here: In contrast to much rhetoric to the contrary, capitalism is the most powerful weapon to achieve energy efficiency we … Continue reading
National Security in the 21st Century
Megan McArdle asks the question, Should we cut our defense spending in half? And has a follow up post entitled “The best offense is a good defense?” It is an interesting discussion in that our military has always been about … Continue reading
News Brief, U Can Tell I Had A Long Day Lulz Edition
Originally at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War Okay, now this is silly. Expecto Petraeus is not worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. Our respect for taking on the hardest job in America (yes, deliberate phrasing), but not a Nobel. … Continue reading
More evidence that Naomi Klein is a nit wit-Update- Links fixed!
Alan Greenspan allowed her to prove it of course, but she also is pretty much making things up in this attempt to slander Milton Friedman. I say pretty much because she is showing little to no originality as this lie, … Continue reading
The Maestro speaks out
Alan Greenspan gives an interview at Democracy Now! There is both a link to the audio and a transcript at the link. Brave. The interview is given by Amy Goodman, who generally I find insipid. Her guest interviewer however is … Continue reading
News Brief, Techno Dracula Edition
Probably pirating em-pee-threes over at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War Well, the military realizes how fundamentally broken our relationship with the PMCs in Iraq has become, and are now pressuring the State Department to exercise some control or oversight … Continue reading
News Brief, A.D.S.R.M.! Edition
Cross-posted on The Conjecturer. Defense & The War This look at PMCs, from late August no less, is pretty close to my views. Recognizing the impracticality of removing all PMCs in the lack of any ability to regrow military capacity … Continue reading
News Brief, Radio Cure Edition
Respecting all races and religions over at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War It turns out the U.S. repeatedly refused to investigate or handle any of the complaints about Blackwater allegedly murdering civilians. But don’t worry—there are clearly laws against … Continue reading
News Brief, Lover’s Spit Edition
Three kinds of busy over at The Conjecturer. Good News I was ambushed by the Anonymous Lobbyist of Wonkette fame, and asked a lot of questions about Central Asia for Jezebel, a sister publication in the Gawker blog family. The … Continue reading
News Brief, Wolverine Edition
Slowly going mad with exhaustion at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War Security is falling to pieces in Southern Iraq. Rather than taking it as evidence of the need for benevolent Western leadership over Iraqi affairs, I see it as … Continue reading
Democrats Continue Porkapalooza
Gee, here I was thinking the Democrats were going to: serve the people’s interests, not special interests create balanced budgets pay down our national debt put an end to Republican business as usual And that they were mighty concerned with … Continue reading
News Brief, Heinrich Maneuver Edition
Probably in a bad mood over at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War Those silly experts and their “numbers,” always undermining the troops. To wit: there is no discernible drop in violence in Iraq, and what little there was occurred … Continue reading
News Brief, Some Loud Thunder Edition
At loggerheads over at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War The DoD has crossed its arms, pouted, and insisted the GAO report on Iraq is wrong. Meanwhile, living among the world of verifiable measures of progress is news that “the … Continue reading
Capitalist Genes (Updated)
Is it possible that a proclivity for capitalism is genetic, and therefore hereditary? At first blush the idea seems preposterous. How can an idea be hereditary? And how can capitalism, which rewards innovation, risk-taking, and creativity, no matter who you … Continue reading
Asking The Wrong Question
“Is government the answer?” That’s probably not a question unfamiliar to most readers of ASHC, and it’s not the “wrong question” referred to in the title. In fact, I routinely present my arguments with that question as the implied premise. … Continue reading
Gratuitous left bashing
Tyler Cowen links to this review of his latest book: This book review has introduced me to a new enemy, the economist Tyler Cowen… “The critical economic problem is scarcity,” he says in his book. Like all other capitalist economist, … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Lance's Page
11 Comments
News Brief, The Devil’s Territory
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer Defense & the War My respect for Kilcullen continues to rise. I hope he can affect some sort of change in the Army. But, I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t. His thoughts on how our … Continue reading
Economists Who Didn’t Take “Econ 101″
Following a link from Insty to read about the latest misery in Zimbabwe, I encountered this jaw-dropping line: Most economists say Mr Mugabe’s policies are to blame for ruining the economy. Most economists? Most? Really? Praytell, who is holding themselves … Continue reading
Aid vs Investment in Africa
Perhaps the old saying “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a life time” should be revised to include “invest in the man … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Foreign affairs, Keith's Page
3 Comments
News Brief, All the Trees of the Field Edition
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. Defense There goes Bob Gates, recklessly fear-mongering and not supporting the troops again. An example of the general malaise facing the military: the San Antonio-class amphibious ship, $840 million over budget and two years behind schedule, … Continue reading
News Brief, Everything Is Everything Edition
Cross-posted on The Conjecturer. Defense A look at the operations in Baquba, with entire blocks of booby-trapped houses wired to explode for the troops. These kinds of delays are just what happen in warfare. But it speaks to how the … Continue reading
News Brief, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore Edition
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. Defense Declassified documents reveal one of the CIA’s biggest fears during the Cold War was the illicit wiretapping of American citizens—precisely what has happened under Bush’s war rules. All for freedom! An absolutely fascinating look at … Continue reading
News Brief, 6 Underground Edition
Cross-posted on The Conjecturer. Defense (HT: the ever-excellent Bonnie Boyd) The way we treat the disabled veterans we create is our shame. What’s worse is, war supporters tend to write off these kinds of stories as “anti-Bush lefty shilling” or … Continue reading
Trading Dependencies
Instapundit links to an article in Reason about how the increased production of ethanol is leading to higher prices for food. I also think it could lead to increasing reliance by America on foreign grain. Which, as we saw with … Continue reading
News Brief, Atoms for Peace Edition
Cross-posted on The Conjecturer. Defense Air Force planes are being used to scour for IEDs. This is related to the Inside the Air Force piece I mentioned a few months ago, about the use of “show of force” operations to … Continue reading
News Brief, I Worked Late Then Went to the Wilco Show Edition
Cross-posted on The Conjecturer. Defense Follow up to the story on the pathetic number of fluents in Arabic currently stationed at the Baghdad Vatican-Embassy (and shame on me for not noticing this): the 3/3 proficiency level is virtually useless—both because … Continue reading
News Brief, I Was A Lover Edition
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. Defense Could the shakeup at JCS be an indication of a possibly positive move toward skepticism on Iraq? Possibly. I’m more intrigued with putting two Navy guys in charge of our insurgency campaigns—what kind of insight … Continue reading