Linking Africa's future to rising India and ChinaBased on a new World Bank study titled "Africa's Silk Road," I'm happy to report that recent economic developments in Africa are both real and indicative of tremendous opportunity. I know you've heard a lot about Africa's "resurgence" lately, but these developments are truly market-driven and not merely the result of outsiders' good intentions.
As economist Paul Collier likes to say, it's important to distinguish between the development "biz," or the world of official development aid, and development "buzz," or the periodic rush of celebrity interest. Both are worthy in their own ways but largely ineffectual over the long haul in that they treat symptoms more than disease. While it's crucial to respond to humanitarian crises, such resource flows tend to evaporate once the triggering events die down.
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Comments (3)
Do you see this also facilitating the spread of epidemics? You have written on this subject before, mostly discussing SARS. Some of the most problematic and virulent diseases come from Africa. Globalization draws those from the rural areas to the cities. The rural areas are where these diseases originate. Do African airports have the kind of controls you experienced on your way back from China after adopting your baby? How do you see this scenario developing, or don't you?
Posted by michal shapiro | March 23, 2008 8:22 AM
All connectivity raises the possibility of epidemics spreading. And yet, far fewer people die that way than in previous eras, so clearly something comes along with that connectivity that negates the obvious outcome of heightened connectivity.
And that would be rising incomes.
Posted by Tom Barnett | March 24, 2008 8:01 AM
Agreed with Tom. Plus also spreading rulesets. There are real epidemics, such as SARS. For countries that are hooked into global connectivity, these are scary times where weaknesses are exposed and problems solved.
There's definitely a pacing aspect to all of this, but over the long haul things get better with more connectivity, and worse with less, as long as it responds to global market incentives.
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March 24, 2008 7:15 PM