> I visualise the UNDP as a giant global strategist with a clear long
term
> vision. That vision is to 'create entitlements' in developing countries.
> Prof Sen, '98 Noble laureate in Eco, says that it's 'lack of entitlements'
> that result in extreme poverty. Low entitlements is different from low
> incomes for it's entirely possible to be poor in income but rich in
> education, health and gender equality. (e.g the state of Kerala, India) I
> think the UNDP's role is to 'create entitlements' (through education,
> health etc) such that over time developing countries themselves can
> initiate and sustain growth. Also, by 'creating entitlements', Joyce's
> apprehensions would be partly answered. An educated, healthy, aware
> population is a much more potent force in checking corruption, demanding
> growth, forcing democratic decisions. As Prof Sen's fascinating seminal
> work on famines have shown, not a SINGLE famine in the last 40 years has
> been in a democratic country!! That's the power of 'entitlements'.That
> could also be the vision of the UNDP!
>
> Tamojit Dutta
> vision. That vision is to 'create entitlements' in developing countries.
> Prof Sen, '98 Noble laureate in Eco, says that it's 'lack of entitlements'
> that result in extreme poverty. Low entitlements is different from low
> incomes for it's entirely possible to be poor in income but rich in
> education, health and gender equality. (e.g the state of Kerala, India) I
> think the UNDP's role is to 'create entitlements' (through education,
> health etc) such that over time developing countries themselves can
> initiate and sustain growth. Also, by 'creating entitlements', Joyce's
> apprehensions would be partly answered. An educated, healthy, aware
> population is a much more potent force in checking corruption, demanding
> growth, forcing democratic decisions. As Prof Sen's fascinating seminal
> work on famines have shown, not a SINGLE famine in the last 40 years has
> been in a democratic country!! That's the power of 'entitlements'.That
> could also be the vision of the UNDP!
>
> Tamojit Dutta
There are cultural elements which are not so easy to overcome. I'm
thinking of Russia and perhaps some of the other former Soviet Republics, where
populations have been educated and have had a relatively good standard of health
care. Russians feel "entitled", yet nothing seems to work for
them. And even though Russians may feel entitled and now have a democratic
form of government (maybe), they may soon be starving.
What may be missing is not feelings of entitlement, but a means to make
entitlement practical - a system of rational and reasonable laws and property
rights, and courts and authorities which can enforce laws and rights. This
would not be easy to put together - in the west it took centuries to
develop. What Russia is demonstrating is that without such fundamental
institutions, felt entitlements and a democratic form of government are not very
helpful.
Ed Weick
