Why is Africa Poor?

[Southern]

@MMMark

Sun. 10/03/21 20:56 EDT
.post #17

@Southern

Are you contending that Botswana is not one of poorest nations on earth?

I’m not contending that. In fact, I have no idea. But when you state that it is, I wish you’d at least provide a link to a comparison chart or something. I mean, is it in the lowest five, ten, twenty? And according to most measures, or just one, or two, or what?

Fair enough. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html

I am glad that you challenged me. I was able to learn somethings that I was unaware of. Botswana in a number of areas ranks middle of the pack. But then again ranks at the back of the pack some others. Being highly dependant on the production of diamonds has allowed the country to improve its economic position in the world, but it looks like now they have been hit hard by the economic troubles in the west.

@MMMark

@Southern

But when you look at african populations outside of africa they are relatively poor. This is in western nations where both european, african, and asian populations are subject to the same economic and political systems. Yet the asian populations have out performed the europeans and the africans have lagged far behind the europeans.

Before I can argue this with you, we’d have to establish:

1. What, exactly, you are saying here;
2. Whether what you are saying is objectively demonstrable;
3. To what extent what you are saying is true.

1. You suggested that the proper institutions could improve the outlook for african nations. You used botswana as an example. I made the assumption that you were suggesting that the major problems in africa were caused by lack of proper institutions. I am in total agreement that the proper institutions are important, however they do not explain all. So I used an example where different populations of people when exposed to the same institutions have different outcomes.

2. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstables/032009/pov/new01_100.htm

3. I dont know what you mean.