- Capitalism and Alternatives -

Rates of Change

In Reply to: One Gapes in Awe. posted by Dr. Cruel on July 29, 1999 at 13:13:30:

: P.S. Incidentally ... Is anyone aware that Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world? I wonder why ...

Burkina Faso (in Dioula, "the people's democratic state of honest men" ) was one of the poorest states in the world prior to the socialist revolution in 1983, and remains so today. During the 4 years that Thomas Sankara was in power, however, education increased by a third, one of the major diseases of teh counrty was eliminated, 60% of children were vaccinated in one two-week period, GDP began growing isgnificantly, and a railroad was completed solely with volunteer labor.. Obviously, since the man was overthrown in 1987, some of these indicators have deteriorated since then. nevertheless, much of teh porgress remains. Look at rates of change in teh indicators, not at their absolute levels; the rate of change under Sankara and afterwards is the best guide tpo whether progress was made or not.

Follow Ups:

• mind telling us why Sankora was overthrown? Jason USA August 02 1999 (1)
  • Infighting Nikhil Jaikumar DSA MA, USA August 02 1999 (0)
• The law of diminishing returns, and all that. DonS USA August 02 1999 (1)
  • Who cares about inefficiency? Lark Next Fear Outer Heaven September 27 1999 (0)
• What I read in the CIA World Factbook Dr. Cruel August 02 1999 (1)
  • let's test this prediction.... Nikhil Jaikumar DSA MA, USA August 04 1999 (0)