Poverty And The Absence Of Optimism

THE idea that an infusion of hope can make a big difference to the lives of wretchedly poor people sounds like something dreamed up by a well-meaning activist or a tub-thumping politician. Yet this was the central thrust of a lecture at Harvard University on May 3rd by Esther Duflo, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for her data-driven analysis of poverty. Ms Duflo argued that the effects of some anti-poverty programmes go beyond the direct impact of the resources they provide. These programmes also make it possible for the very poor to hope for more than mere survival.

Comments

[SoylentGreenIsPeople]

10:41 PM on 05/14/2012

A pair of rose colored glasses.

[OldTulsan]

11:54 AM on 05/14/2012

The opportunist wins...

http://www.lolroflmao.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mr-opportunist.jpg

[somewhatodd]

11:09 AM on 05/14/2012

optimism is our own creation, and our obligation.

optimism is a shield, and a weapon, and a medicine.

pessimism is a poison that disempowers, and can only benefit the powers that be.

only when we are optimistic, we can see possibility and potential.

when we practice pessimism, our ability to appreciate weakens, and our self pity strengthens.

[somewhatodd]

10:52 AM on 05/14/2012

cynicism is the bread and butter of political pundits, liberal and conservative alike.

pessimism disempowers for the benefit of the powers that be.

optimism is a shield, a weapon, and a medicine.

optimism is our own creation, and a responsibility, and a civic duty to our fellow countrymen.

pessimism is poisonous, abandon it!

[Taxed]

10:52 AM on 05/14/2012

"Ms Duflo argued that the effects of some anti-poverty programmes go beyond the direct impact of the resources they provide."
The more the government pays people to make bad decisions, the more bad decisions they can make. The longer the government pays people to make bad decisions, the longer they will be able to make bad decisions. This has been proven over and over. More of the same is not the solution.

[somewhatodd]

10:55 AM on 05/14/2012

like wall street bankers, for example?

[Repo 105]

11:10 PM on 05/14/2012

Agreed, more of supply-side is not the solution.

[OldTulsan]

10:32 AM on 05/14/2012

The new normal:

o 20%-30% underemplo­yment
o unfettered offshoring and non-immigr­ant work visas (H-1B, L-1)
o home ownership out of reach for most workers
o stagnant or decreasing wages
o end of job-based health insurance
o end of retirement for low-paid workers
o elections of only candidates from the two-party duopoly
o crumbling infrastruc­ture
o endless wars
o death of the rule of law when bankers can launder drug money without fear of prison time

What a legacy for our future generation­s, who will grow up without ever knowing hope.

[intelliwoman]

12:07 PM on 05/14/2012

Which is why, if I can, I and about 10 of my closest friends are getting out.

[OldTulsan]

01:40 PM on 05/14/2012

We have a house in Quezon City in the Philippines as a last resort.

Last week someone asked how to become a Canadian citizen; I posted a link.

[ModerateCentrist]

02:28 PM on 05/15/2012

I agree with everything you wrote, except this: "end of retirement for low-paid workers".
It's the end of retirement for most workers, period. (except for management).

only about 15% of all jobs are unionized, of which 84% of them had a pension plan in 2010, but only 20% of private industry workers had a pension/retirement plan...
and i'd bet it's even lower now, as new employees rarely get the same benefits as the older employees.
and most hourly workers never get paid enough to be able to save enough for retirement.

so, unless they can live on Social Security alone - and if it's still around in another 20 years,
it'll be "work until you drop" for most i think.

http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2011/02/07/7-reasons-you-dont-have-a-pension

[OldTulsan]

05:27 PM on 05/15/2012

Agreed.

American workers are headed towards serfdom.

From Chris Hedges latest column:

"Colonized by Corporations"

"...The response of a dying regime—and our corporate regime is dying—is to employ increasing levels of force, and to foolishly refuse to ameliorate the chronic joblessness, foreclosures, mounting student debt, lack of medical insurance and exclusion from the centers of power. Revolutions are fueled by an inept and distant ruling class that perpetuates political paralysis. This ensures its eventual death..."

[olehippie]

10:11 AM on 05/14/2012

My best employee and I were chit chatting after work the other day. I mentioned that I had found a collection of "old photos" that were from the fifties and how they were fun to look at with all the old buildings, cars, and people. His response really struck me. He said: " the thing is, when you see that man and his family camping, or at the beach, you know that all the hope, the optimism he had in that moment is gone today-- it's never coming back. I once thought I would strike out on my own in business one day, but now, it's not even a fleeting thought, never, not for a minute."

This man is a good man and employee. He has a wife (who also works) and two great young kids. He is smart and while I pay him above average wage (significantly above average wage) he has had his hope drained.

What hope can those in worse situations than he and his wife have in this "the greatest country in the world" if we continue on the path of money and hope only for the few and everyone else-- too bad?

[Repo 105]

11:11 PM on 05/14/2012

I agree. It's why I'm considering not having kids. I am actually very much scared for what the future of this country holds and I wouldn't want to put individuals through that.

[olehippie]

07:59 AM on 05/15/2012

It's a shame that this is how many people feel in the United States now.

The questions have been asked: What kind of country do you want to live in? Do you believe that changing the system is long overdue? Or do you believe everything is just fine the way it is?

There is only one party that shows by record that they want to restore that hope, that believes good people deserve to have a chance and that it is time to correct the path of this country onto one that embodies what we were all taught to believe throughout our upbringing-- that EVERYONE has a chance here in America.

Regards

[authorized-user]

09:31 AM on 05/14/2012

The US is in the same flat economic spiral that Japan has been stuck in for over 20 years.

[ModerateCentrist]

02:45 PM on 05/15/2012

Exactly. We are the new Japan, on our way down, and China & India are the new us, on their way up. But historically and economically, we're all on the exact same trajectory.

I'm old enough to remember when things we bought here used to say "Made in the USA", which was followed by "Made in Japan". Now they say," Made in China" with all the order takers and customer support in India.

It's a sad time for us for sure.

[nothingchanges]

09:17 AM on 05/14/2012

When you know for a fact that the "game" is rigged.

What incentive is there to play?