Monthly Archives: July 2011
Perceptions of China and the United States
A guaranteed way to bait someone into a contentious discussion in Nairobi is to ask for their opinion on the value of China’s activities in Africa and how the massive investment in infrastructure and buildings has and will contribute to … Continue reading
Why is Income Inequality in the U.S at the Highest Level in 90 Years? A Brief History
Something strange is happening in the United States. Parallel sets of reality exist, disconnected from one another in the discourse over issues like taxes, the tea party, and the debt ceiling. In one reality, there is a very loud and … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign Policy
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There Is a Famine in East Africa Right Now
The official definition of a famine: More than 30% of children must be suffering from acute malnutrition Two adults or four children must be dying of hunger each day for every group of 10,000 people The population must have access … Continue reading
Posted in Public Health
Tagged famine in east africa, famine in somalia, hunger, starvation
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A Toaster in Every Kitchen: Growing Demand in Developing Nations
The chart above is a bit complicated, but remarkably interesting. For a good explanation, read Felix Salmon. For a below-average explanation of questionable veracity, keep reading. This chart displays the ratio of two ratios. The numerator is the P/E (price … Continue reading
Technology Evolution and Revolution in Africa
Chances are you have never heard of the company Huawei. Founded in 1988, this somewhat secretive Chinese company has become the fourth largest telecoms equipment and service company in the world, just a few billion in revenue behind Nokia. … Continue reading
The China-Africa Trade Boom
The following is a guest post by Joseph Cox, an MA candidate at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and managing editor of the The Inductive, a blog about U.S. economic and foreign policy. When polled, Americans always cite foreign aid … Continue reading
Caylee’s Law and Irrational Legislation
Casey Anthony, the young mother accused of killing her two year-old daughter Caylee, was found not guilty of first-degree murder. The world, it seems, is very angry that a young girl has been denied justice. Unfortunately, the reaction will be … Continue reading
Films about Africa: “Blood Diamond”
I watched the film “Blood Diamond” for the first time the other day. For those who have not seen it, the movie is graphic, placing the horror of armed conflict in Africa on full display. The director does not seem … Continue reading
Saving as a Group
The following is a guest post by Gemma North, an associate with Saving for Change, a community finance program run by Oxfam America. ?In 2009, I worked for a microfinance institution called CREDIT in Cambodia. On a field visit, I … Continue reading
Posted in Microfinance
Tagged micro-savings, Microfinance, microsavings, saving for change
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