Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist

USA
4955 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 20:17:49
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In relation to this thread, I thought I'd share (at least in part) from a recent New York Times review of Jeffrey Sachs' The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities in Our Time. The reviewer, Daniel Drezner writes that Sachsquote: makes a bold declaration in The End of Poverty. He argues that if the wealthy countries of the world were to increase their combined foreign aid budgets to between $135 billion and $195 billion for the next decade, and properly allocate that money, extreme global poverty -- defined by the World Bank as an income of less than a dollar a day -- could be eliminated by 2025.
The book isn't without flaws, but I'll leave it to you to read the review and, if you're interested, the book.
Nevertheless, Drezener concludes thatquote: It's highly unlikely that Sachs's proposals will ever be adopted in full. And yet, is there any other way of spending $150 billion a year that would reduce extreme poverty more effectively? Even if The End of Poverty is only half right, the payoff would be enormous: more than 500 million people helped. Sachs hasn't found a sure thing. But that doesn't mean his bet should not be made.
To be sure! [Edited to modify book links - Dave W.]
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