Why Poor Countries Are Poor - The clues lie on a bumpy road leading to the world’s worst library.

Reason ^ | March 2006 | Tim Harford

[IronJack]

...and eventually fell upon its own petard.

Mixed metaphor aside, Rome didn't have ICBMs, stealth bombers, or satellite communications. The world we have to rule today is a lot smaller than the Roman Empire's was.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Those things are the prerequistes for rule of law and respect for private property.

[King Prout]

fair 'nuff :)

[King Prout]

...and eventually fell upon its own petard.

yes... from undefined succession, inter-legion wars, and their own version of illegal immigration. and that was only the West. The East lasted in fairly good shape until the 1200's, and did not fall entirely until 1453ad. name any other nation which endured continuously for 2000 years.

[GOPJ]

Phenomenal article BUMP!

Easily the most insightful article I've read in a year or two...

[GOPJ]

This article should be appended to every application for foreign aid.

Better yet, send the author to Iraq and let him have at it. Perverse incentives? They're all over that place.

[GOPJ]

Long. But worth the time...

[zimdog]

China

[SauronOfMordor]

At one point I was reading "The Bell Curve".

In order to have a viable technological civilization, you need a certain minimum percentage of people with IQ above 110 to constitute the middle class. The average IQ in Africa is about 80, which means that the percentage of 110+IQ people there is rather small

The problem may not have a civilized solution

[Cannoneer No. 4]

"My brother and I against my cousin and my cousin and I against the world."

Afghanistan is not in Africa, but it is poor as hell for much the same reasons as Cameroon is.

Thank God for George Washington!

Colonialism was a much better deal for the colonized than it was for the colonizers.

Somebody should list the nastiest African hell holes and their former colonial powers. All and all the Brits did OK.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The average IQ in Africa is about 80

How do we know this?

Is there an uncivilized solution?

[Centurion2000]

That's why it's so screwed up. It's french derived.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Sobering.

But the limo-democrats tell us we must donate (er, throw) more, and more, and more, and more into these cesspools.

Without changing the culture, the in-bred honesty and compassion Christian-spirit of the people, their leaders, and their employees, it's evident that no change will occur.

[technochick99]

Corruption is the bane of our society, and all societies.

[colorado tanker]

Fantastic article!

Ain't it great that thanks to Bono and Tony Blair, we have the Africa debt forgiveness plan so's dictators like this who've maxed out their World Bank debit cards can get another shot of dough for their Swiss accounts??? Is this a great system or what??!!

[JCEccles]

But Saint Bono says they're poor because the US is stingy.

[SauronOfMordor]

How do we know this?

Google for IQ africa. There are various studies, getting figures as high as 85 and as low as below 70

Is there an uncivilized solution?

There are lots. I choose not to dwell on them. Remember the fate of the American Indians

[GOPJ]

Somebody should list the nastiest African hell holes and their former colonial powers. All and all the Brits did OK.

Good point.

[GOPJ]

Somebody should list the nastiest African hell holes and their former colonial powers. All and all the Brits did OK.

Good point.

[hedgetrimmer]

Bump