Tag(s): ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (more...) , Add Tags  (less...)
Add to My Group(s)

View Ratings | Rate It

Permalink
View Article Stats

Violent politics contribute to Nepal's poverty

Add this Page to Facebook!
Submit to Twitter
Submit to Reddit
Submit to Stumble Upon

Tell A Friend

Become a Fan
Get Embed HTML Code
By (about the author)

Become a Fan Become a Fan   -- Page 1 of 1 page(s)

opednews.com

Kathmandu, Nepal, November 12 — Why is Nepal so poor compared to India and China? In a 2001 comparison of 174 countries, Nepal ranked 150th in per capita income, a universal indicator of material wealth and living standards. So Nepalese are questioning, why is Nepal so poor?

To answer this question, it is necessary to review the direct cause of higher incomes and then review the subsidiary causes, that is, the economies and politics under which the people live. In that way, some generalizations can be drawn.

Poverty in Nepal is the result of violence and its leadership. Nepal's economic reformers are not able to rally for bigger social transformations or bring about social reforms. We must remember, the direct causes of economic development are the tools, machines, materials, energy sources, medicines, physicians and manufacturing and commercial practices that are transformed into consumable goods and services that comprise basic development standards, which are then summarized into income statistics.
There are other ways to increase per capita income, of course, but they are limited. Leaders can put more people to work and compel them to work harder. But how far can you push people? Maybe an additional 10%, and then what? They can extract more raw materials (ores, lumber, etc.), assuming they are available to exploit, but there are limits to how much can be obtained and used. They can put more land under cultivation, but that too is limited by people's appetites.

This acquisition of a better economy requires large amounts of money, which cannot be accumulated domestically, because that requires technology. Thus, an initial loan or grant of "seed money" is required. Such loans do not necessarily lead Nepal to develop. There is an complex interplay of economy and polity, leadership and violent politics that produce unknown, uneven effects, thus preventing guaranteed economic success.

However, when Nepalese see richer countries enjoying goods and services that they cannot afford, the resulting envy may lead to revolution or emigration, or both. Economic development depends not only on education, but also on the economy and polity of the nation.
From the above, it is clear that a country with violent politics is severely handicapped to generate sufficient money to increase the wealth and living standards of its people. It is true, economic and associated incomes are devoted to preventing people from killing and stealing from each other.

Nepal's leaders are not able to change its economy and polity and enjoy greater relative wealth, despite the enthusiastic and sanguine projections of its leaders, planners and would-be leaders.

Nepal, with its unchanging combination of violent politics, will continue to depend on others to stimulate economic growth.
Kamala is an editor for mediaforfreedom.com. Her specialties are
in-depth reporting and writing stories on peace and anti-war issues,
women, terrorism, democracy and development. Some of her publicationsinclude: Women's Empowerment in South Asia, Nepal Prevention of Trafficking in Women Through Media; Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in for Media Activism. She has also written two collections of stories.

 

mediaforfreedom.com

Kamala Sarup is an editor for mediaforfreedom.com. Kamala is a regular contributor to UPI- Asia News. Her specialties are in-depth reporting and writing stories on peace and anti-war issues, women, terrorism, democracy and development. Some of her (more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Contact Author Contact Editor View Authors' Articles

 

Share this page: (what's this?)                   Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

Add this Page to Facebook!      Submit to Stumble Upon      Submit to Reddit      Add This Page to Mr Wong!           NEWSVINE      DEl.ICIO.US      Looksmart Furl      My Web      Blink List     (More...)

Comments

The time limit for entering new comments on this article has expired.

This limit can be removed. Our paid membership program is designed to give you many benefits, such as removing this time limit. To learn more, please click here.

Comments: Expand   Shrink   Hide  
No comments