February 22, 2007
Disillusioning Solution
I recently had the pleasure of attending a presentation made by one of today’s greatest economists, Jeffrey Sachs, at the University of Chicago. You may know the thick-haired, placid tie-wearing economic superstar from his best-selling book, The End of Poverty, or perhaps from his awkwardly-posed pictures with U2 lead singer Bono, whom he engaged to write the book’s foreword. In short, the man has made himself stunningly famous these past several years by summarizing a solution to eradicating extreme poverty from this planet by 2025.
As a wide-eyed economist hopeful who went in clutching my notebook ready to record every word this great man spoke about solving this devastating global condition, imagine my disappointment walking out without having heard a solution.
Posted by Michelle Smith at 10:50 PM | Comments (1)
January 24, 2007
Davos 2007
The World Economic Forum has begun its 36th annual meeting in the eye-popping backdrop of Davos, Switzerland. Designed to be a forum for dialogue and problem-solving between some of the world's top economic and political leaders, critics of the forum have denounced the week as fluff meetings coupled with chic soirees that are more conducive to corporate lobbying and deal-making than eliminating world poverty or other global woes. Will 2007 dispel the criticisms?
Posted by Michelle Smith at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2005
Economists and Fine Upholstery
If academic economists had report cards, their schedules would be cluttered with numerous parent-teacher conferences these days. Progress has gone from stellar to mediocre, and the lacking signs of future potential would be enough to rouse any worried observer’s attention.
Posted by Michelle Smith at 03:08 AM | Comments (0)