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So how much of other people's money should Africans use per year to spend their way to prosperity?
What dollar amount per year are we obligated to gift them so that they can spend their way to prosperity?
It depends on the specific country and the specific problems they face. But many of the problems are really not that expensive to fix. For example, distributing mosquito bed nets and spraying insecticide in people's houses costs about $10 per person per year...and would not be necessary after five years, because malaria would be virtually eliminated from the area. Mass distribution of condoms would require about $25 per person per year...and would be necessary until the birth rate declined from stratospheric levels, which can take 20-25 years (or perhaps a bit longer in the countries where condoms would also be necessary as an HIV prevention technique).
celticlord said:For how many years are we obligated to gift them this money? How long until they can spend their way into prosperity?
Again, it depends on the country. Jeffrey Sachs (a well-known economist who specializes in these issues) has made a fairly compelling argument that once nations reach $6,000 GDP per capita, they no longer require outside assistance to continue growing their economies. And even before they reach that point, they'll require significantly less assistance as they approach that point.
celticlord said:(While you're at it, perhaps you can also explain why we are obligated to make this gift, and to help them spend their way to prosperity.)
As soon as this goes from an economics debate to a not-my-problem debate, that's when I stop participating. :roll:
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