“Poor Economics”, a revolution in the struggle against poverty

Surkld’s team would like to recommend a fantastic book written by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) scientists Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo.

The book is called “Poor Economics” and has just been published.

It is a result of the great work the two scientists have been doing lately and presents a new way to look at poverty in poor countries. They provide very interesting facts and data that are coming from their research and surveys in the countries the study is based on.

This book tries to show the logic behind the economic choices made by people living below the poverty line in poor countries. Sometimes the choices they are making might seem a bit strange to us in developed countries to the NGOs working there.

Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo provide new insights and solutions that are based on actual examples they have witnessed during their stay. They have been trying, without any political ideology, to look at the situation in the countries and the solutions given in response by the local governments or NGOs.

By collecting data and focusing on representative groups, the two scientists managed to get to very interesting solutions that will surely be of a great help in the near future. As emeritus scientists, they have of course used the most accurate statistic tools they could in order to achieve an outstanding study that cannot be seen as politically committed.

One of their main conclusions is that people living in these countries are economically rational and behave accordingly. Even if their choices are not the most profitable ones, they are made rationally.

They also say that often, due to their misunderstanding of this logic, NGOs and governments decide for them what is best or not which unfortunately results in lowering the impact of the multiple campaigns they are trying to set up.

We strongly advice you to have a look at the book’s website where you can read more about their amazing work and results:

http://pooreconomics.com/

Surkld would like to compliment Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo and thank them for the great value of their work.

Posted in: NGOs,World