HEllo Brother Sidibeh,
This forward makes very interesting reading. If one is not in denial, and there are many of us in that state, it is very easy to transpose this onto our situation. Unfortunately we are all culpable in some way in the tragedy that has befallen our poor countries. The so called police officer, bureaucrat, and officials are not foreigners imposed on us. They are brothers, sisters, uncles, and fathers.
Indeed many of us criticizing the institutions would very likely swim with the tide if we found ourselves in the position our compatriots are in. They have always had a word for this in Gambia, it is called "DIRIMOCRACY".It covers ritual elections, and subsequent systematic looting of public funds. Am sure the good folks of Cameron also have a local word for it.
"Subhanallah"- may god help us all.
------- Original Message -------
From : Momodou S Sidibeh[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent : 3/24/2006 8:22:55 PM
To : [log in to unmask]
Cc :
Subject : RE: Fw: Why Poor Countries Are Poor
We still don't have a good word to describe what is missing in Cameroon and in poor countries across the world. But we are starting to understand what it is. Some people call it "social capital," or maybe "trust." Others call it "the rule of law," or "institutions." But these are just labels. The problem is that Cameroon, like other poor countries, is a topsy-turvy place where it's in most people's interest to take actions that directly or indirectly damage everyone else. The incentives to create wealth are turned on their heads like the roof of the school library.
Tim Harford, a columnist for the Financial Times, is the author of The Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich Are Rich, the Poor Are Poor-and Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car! (Oxford University Press), from which this article is adapted.
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