Duncan
Thanks for your contribution. Are there anymore subscribers that can add to
the reality of living on $2 a day? There are books full of data on this
field but its hard to communicate to students - because it is so far beyond
their experience. The Economists Big Mac Index is always interesting but a
McDonalds burger is not always a useful yardstick.
It would be great to have some comparative break-downs of what $2 will buy
in different parts of the world.
There is so much emotive stuff that is not backed up with any firm facts or
data. I fear that Citizenship may exacerbate the problem as many
non-experts will be dealing with these issues.
Jenny
At 11:15 19/10/01 +0500, you wrote:
>Richard, hope you don't mind me keeping this on line for this one.
>
>I'd like to suggest that you start with a debate on the meaning of
>poverty. Please read the following very carefully as it is meant to
>spark off a constructive debate rather than being an anti Western
>diatribe.
>
>Having lived in developing countries since 1988 now I have to say that
>one of the problems with development assistance is that we in the
>developed world usually begin our efforts by imposing our own thoughts
>and values on the rest of the planet. What this means is that
>development policy often starts by feeling sorry for someone because
>they live on less than $2 a day. (From Richard's Wood Green site: a
>quote from WRD 2000 Attacking Poverty).
>
>Whilst $2 a day is not a lot of money, how many of us know what $2 a day
>here in Tbilisi, Georgia can buy? How sorry should we be for someone
>living on $2 a day? Does this amount of money signify abject poverty,
>poverty, enough to get by on ... ?
>
>The problem is that *we* simply could not live on $2 a day and cannot
>conceive of anyone else doing so either. In the case of Georgia where
>living quarters are still essentially free of charge for the vast
>majority, for Georgians there are no mortgages and there is no rent so
>at the simplest level, living costs comprise food, heat and light,
>clothing.
>
>However, if we follow through development policies, they include such
>things as corporate governance and the internationalisation of
>accounting standards ... yet electricity and water shortages abound, the
>roads are often in a parlous state, smuggling of many, many goods is
>rife and this impacts on tax/customs duties and jobs for Georgians,
>corruption flourishes at all levels of society. Let me tell you that
>since perestroika, the US government alone has donated $1 billion to
>Georgia and still there is a huge amount more to do.
>
>My thesis is that international aid starts at the top and works its way
>down yet the needs of the majority start at the bottom and work their
>way up. If we take the contents page of Eliminating "World Poverty:
>Making Globalisation Work for the Poor" a White Paper on International
>Development (link on Richard's site) as indicative of the order in which
>the UK government intends to implement its development policies, you
>will see what I mean. This White Paper contains many laudable ideals and
>targets but I wonder about the political will to achieve those targets,
>especially now as the US and UK foreign policy machines, among others,
>have suddenly changed direction following the horrors of the destruction
>of the World Trade Centre in September.
>
>You could start by getting your students to find out what it means to
>live on $2 a day in various parts of the world; then find out what the
>World Bank, the IMF, the DFID, USAID and so on have done and are doing
>to help countries to help themselves ... I'll be happy to help if you
>need info on Georgia!
>
>As a matter of interest, if I were to spend $2 a day on fruit, veg,
>bread, cereals, milk and tea, for example, and consume it all, I would
>be absolutely bloated by now.
>
>
>
>Duncan Williamson
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Richard Young [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Friday, 19 m10 2001 9:26
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Economic Development
>
>
>I find the Economics of Development module the hardest to teach
>
>In particular:
>
>* Strategies for encouraging students to think critically and
>evaluatively
>about theory and policy
>* Finding good case studies. I love the Biz/ed Virtual Development
>* Knowing how much detail to teach on theories
>
>So anyone out there in a similar situation let's chat OFFLINE?
>
>Finally have you seen the free ebook on Development from the World Bank.
>See
>http://www.woodgreen.oxon.sch.uk/economics/ec_develop.htm for a link
>
>
>
>Regards
>
>Richard Young
>Business Studies, Economics & ICT Teacher
>Wood Green School
>Woodstock Road
>Witney OX28 1DX
>
>Tel 01993 702355
>Fax 01993 708662
>
>www.woodgreen.oxon.sch.uk
>BECTa/Guardian Secondary School Web Site of the Year 2001
>[log in to unmask]
>
Jenny Wales
Co-Director
Nuffield Economics and Business Project
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