---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 12:23:17 PDT
From: tamojit dutta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [UNDP]: UNDP and Economic Development
Development Economics is never easy. I don't think ANY of us have THE
right answer. No economist/donor has ALL the solution to poverty, hunger,
illiteracy, ill health. If indeed we had cracked that solution this
debate/discussion would have been farcical! There ARE barriers - and very
real ones at that - but the challenge for the UNDP is to find a consistent
& collective solution to economic development.
I don't think there is any question about the urgency and immediacy of
action required in developing countries - especially in Sub-Saharan Africa
and the Indian subcontinent. But we need to define the role of the
UN/other donors/local govt such that the actions taken collectively are
timely, appropriate and complementary.
I visualise the UNDP as a giant global strategist with a clear long term
vision. That vision is to 'create entitlements' in developing countries.
Prof Sen, '98 Noble laureate in Eco, says that it's 'lack of entitlements'
that result in extreme poverty. Low entitlements is different from low
incomes for it's entirely possible to be poor in income but rich in
education, health and gender equality. (e.g the state of Kerala, India) I
think the UNDP's role is to 'create entitlements' (through education,
health etc) such that over time developing countries themselves can
initiate and sustain growth. Also, by 'creating entitlements', Joyce's
apprehensions would be partly answered. An educated, healthy, aware
population is a much more potent force in checking corruption, demanding
growth, forcing democratic decisions. As Prof Sen's fascinating seminal
work on famines have shown, not a SINGLE famine in the last 40 years has
been in a democratic country!! That's the power of 'entitlements'.That
could also be the vision of the UNDP!
Tamojit Dutta
