Project Syndicate - Good News in Bad Times

Good News in Bad Times
by Jeffrey D. Sachs

"...these successes... share a similar pattern. They address a well-defined and serious challenge, for example low food production or a specific disease, and are based on a well-defined set of solutions, such as agricultural equipment and inputs needed by peasant farmers, or immunizations.

Small-scale demonstration projects prove how success can be achieved; the challenge then becomes taking the solutions “to scale” in nationwide or even worldwide programs. Leadership is needed, within the countries in need as well as among the rich nations that can help to launch and finance the solutions. Finally, modest amounts of money, directed at practical problem solving, can make an historic difference.

...we will lose the battle against poverty and misery only if we give up, and fail to heed the intelligence and goodwill that can be mobilized today. And perhaps next year, the United States will rejoin the global effort ...”