The Sachs plan for ending poverty
Just finished reading an excellent book by economist Jeffrey Sachs called The End of Poverty - I'd recommend that just about anyone with an interest in political, economic or social justice issues should read it. I'll be honest and say point-blank that a big highlight for me was that it made a persuasive case for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) without resorting to too much economic jargon that I wouldn't understand. Essentially, Sachs argues that the MDGs are all within reach by 2015, and that furthermore, we have the opportunity to completely eliminate extreme poverty by 2025. That's a pretty ambitious and exciting goal, I think. There've been many authors and activists and disappointingly-few politicians throughout the last few decades who have pressed for the need to increase foreign aid levels to developing countries (former Canadian PM Lester Pearson was the one who suggested the 0.7% target), but I think that Sachs' book is the most persuasive case so far. His background certainly helps - he's a classically-trained economist, with impeccable credentials at Harvard and Columbia, and he's had much experience advising nations around the world to the end of rebuilding economies. Several years ago, he was appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to design a plan for the implementation of the MDGs. So I think that it's fair to say that in Jeffrey Sachs we have a man who should be taken very seriously.
Systematically, Sachs looks at his past experiences in economic advisory roles, and then turns his focus to the MDGs. He looks at the viability of implementing them, and concludes that not only can rich countries afford to increase their levels of foreign aid, not only will the money be used effectively (rather than be skimmed off by widespread corruption), but it is indeed in the best interests of the rich countries from a national security perspective. Not all aspects of his argument are entirely new, but he eloquently, carefully and clearly presents the material. His work is something that can be understood by many, even those without a background in economics or international finance or development, and that is perhaps its greatest value. In The End of Poverty, we read a persuasive case for ending global poverty from a world-renowned economic luminary. The MDGs are indeed within our grasp - and anyone who doubts that, as well as those who don't, should read Jeffrey Sachs' work.
UPDATE: For those of you who are interested, I'm now on to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. And on another note, my blogging activity level will likely decrease exponentially from about 16 December to 9 January. During that time, I'll be at home eating good food, enjoying the snow and showing only a cursory interest in the campaign.
UNRELATED UPDATE: This isn't really worth a new post, but I was rather entertained by a phrase in a CTV story regarding the potential income trust leak investigation. According to someone who heard of the income trust decision in advance, "the specifics were vague." Hooray for vague specifics - could that quotation make any less sense?
