Why Are There Rich and Poor Countries? Symmetry-Breaking in the World Economy

Science and technology capabilities are fundamental for social and economic progress in African countries and they are crucial components aimed at fostering growth and development of every nation as they create impact on the various sectors of governments. Maintaining and Strengthening the contributions of science and technology become more important for Africa in addressing traditional development issues and successful application of science and technology entails establishing effective institutional framework and linkages so that the various science and technology institutions and the productive sectors work in a system that is focused on achieving developmental goals without undue duplication and completion. Unfortunately, many developing countries especially the poor countries in West Africa do not have human resources, physical and economic infrastructures and access to capital to take full advantage of the science and technology expertise and achievements of the developed countries like the USA, China, and Korea etc. Conclusively, it is imperative for Africa especially West African countries to embrace science and technology as a vital tool for accelerating their socio-economic development as science and technology enhances its international competitiveness and more importantly its position in the world economy.

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Spreading the Gains of Globalization: What Can Be Learned from Value Chain Analysis

Voprosy Ekonomiki ◽

10.32609/0042-8736-2003-10-4-26 ◽

2003 ◽

pp. 4-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

R. Kaplinsky

Keyword(s):

Value Chain ◽

World Economy ◽

The Political ◽

Poor People ◽

Value Chain Analysis ◽

Public Enterprises ◽

Poor Countries ◽

Chain Analysis ◽

The World ◽

Private And Public

In recent years globalisation has been associated with growing inequality both among countries and inside their borders as well as with increasing number of people living in poverty. Among those participating in globalisational processes losers can also be found. The article discusses ways to provide under such conditions stable income growth of poor people and poor countries. It is essential to determine means of design and production of goods including internal company structure and relations among companies as well as possibilities of interaction of poor producers and poor countries with producers and consumers in the world economy. Value chain analysis covering the complete cycle of economic activity – from producing the product to its consuming and recycling – is an adequate instrument for assessing the effectiveness of private and public enterprises. Moreover, it helps to deeper understand the political tasks which arise before private and public sectors. Basic theories of value chain concept are considered in the article and specific examples of its implementation are given.

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Book Reviews

Journal of Economic Literature ◽

10.1257/jel.49.4.1230.r11 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 1269-1271

Keyword(s):

World Trade ◽

World Economy ◽

International Political Economy ◽

Harvard University ◽

Poor Countries ◽

Bretton Woods ◽

The World ◽

The Tropics ◽

State Of Tension

Ernesto Zedillo of Yale Center for the Study of Globalization reviews “The Globalization Paradox: Democracy and the Future of the World Economy” by Dani Rodrik. The EconLit abstract of the reviewed work begins, “Presents a critique of globalization that considers whether the process is inevitable and examines the state of tension within it. Discusses markets and states--globalization in history's mirror; the rise and fall of the first great globalization; why everyone doesn't get the case for free trade; Bretton Woods, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the World Trade Organization--trade in a politicized world; financial globalization follies; the foxes and hedgehogs of finance; poor countries in a rich world; trade fundamentalism in the tropics; the political trilemma of the world economy; whether global governance is feasible or desirable; designing capitalism 3.0; and a sane globalization. Rodrik is Rafiq Hariri Professor of International Political Economy in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Index.”

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