22579: Hess: Re: 22527: Durban: Sustainable Development and Industrialization (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dougrhess2@aol.com

Lance Durban writes:

I would submit that their proposals, where government does all of the  "heavy
lifting", actually has a pretty atrocious track record.

===

I haven't read all the proposals, but I'll comment on the idea that
government intervention has not worked. In the nations that people will point to  when
indicating that Haiti, and other nations, use factory jobs for development,
state power was very strong. Namely: Korea, Taiwan, etc. These nations made
dramatic overhauls in land reform, something Haiti has yet to do.

Indeed, many of Haiti's problems stem from having a weak state that cannot
do many of the basic things we associate with a state. Although people may note
 that strength in Haiti's government has often been abused, I would say that
that  is a narrow definition of strength. A "strong state" is one where
governance functions in a healthy, if not perfect, manner. In nations where  the
(para)military intervenes in civil and state affairs, instead of following  the
larger state's lead, I would say those are signs of a weak state.

Finally, it is folly to assume that government involvement doesn't include
factory development schemes. These firms, as in many cities in the US, are more
 than happy to get subsidies in many forms, including tax abatements. Indeed,
if  you looked at how tax deductions are used in the US for individuals and
firms  you'll see a whole different welfare state than they one we hear about
so  often.

-Doug