Paul CollierPaul Collier, an award-winning Oxford University economist, is a self-described Africanist who researches the effects of civil war, aid, and the “problems of democracy” in societies that have lots of resources but low incomes.
He is so far best known as the author of The Bottom Billion; his latest book, Wars, Guns, and Votes, has just been published. And he blogs here.
Both of Collier’s parents left school when they were 12, and his father ran a small shop that kept the family “just about afloat,” Collier recalls. “His frustration at limited opportunities has, for me, been the spur to working on Africa. I do not see Africa as romantically different — some magical ‘other.’ I see it as a place where millions of ordinary people are not able to realize their potential and, like my father, lead frustrating lives.”
In just the past two years, Collier has been senior adviser to Tony Blair‘s Commission for Africa, addressed the General Assembly of the U.N., and met with Condoleezza Rice on her U.K. visit. He has also completed the first external review of I.M.F. operations for the board of the I.M.F.
Collier is a good person to ask about development economics, poverty, population growth, and just about anything else you can think of in that realm. So fire away in the comments section below. As with past Q&A’s, we will post his answers here in a few days.
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To what extent can the root causes of the gap between Western and African economic output be traced to cultural differences – the rule of law, individualism, capitalism, and representative democracy?
To what extent is African poverty a result of European colonialism and to what extent was European colonialism possible because of African poverty? Chicken or egg?
To what extent is corruption an impediment to linking the people of Africa into the global economy? War? What other factors contribute to Africa’s economic isolation?
What would be involved in starting up a factory in an African port city? How about an inland city that would need to transport goods to & from a port? How does this compare with setting up a factory in Tacoma or Reno in the US? With Shanghai or Xi’an in China?
What activities/goods/services are cheap in the first world but expensive in Africa, and why? Please answer this question from both a consumer’s perspective, and from a business owner’s perspective.
What impact will the current recession have on the poorest/bottom billion?
What policy intervention by Western/poor country governments would make a significant difference and are realistic to expect.
Sorry that’s two questions, but I was feeling greedy!
Dear Dr. Collier,
In your book the bottom Billion you propose an agenda for action to help the bottom billion out of the traps they are facing.
Since your book came out, have we moved closer to implementing any of the changes you proposed?
Is the gap between Western countries and Africa (and Southern countries more generally) widening or closing? If it is widening, what are we doing wrong? How should we help?
do you think that there is any way countries like Somalia or Congo can be helped by outsiders without causing more conflict
Do you think that Congo or Somalia should be split up into smaller parts to make it easier to manage since there is no national unity or will that just create more economic problems and fighting
it seems to me that the IMF is the root of the problem- that is, the reason why the bottom billion have been devastated is via ‘economic colonialism’- where state policies in the third world are molded to favor the elite/investor class by opening up markets to capital flight (to the wealthy countries)- my question is: what is the IMF track record in reducing stratification in affected countries, and what is the ethical rationale to opening up a poorer country’s markets to capital flight?
With regard to your research on civil wars: Why do you think governments, in Africa and elsewhere, sometimes resort to brutally violating the human rights of civilians when faced with an emerging rebellion? It seems this strategy backfires in many cases. It may drive civilians to joint rebel groups, increase support to these groups, and lead to civil war. So why do they do it?