Chart of the Day: The True Size of Africa
CARPE DIEM
Professor Mark J. Perry's Blog for Economics and Finance
Saturday, November 06, 2010
About Me
- Name: Mark J. Perry
- Location: Washington, D.C., United States
Dr. Mark J. Perry is a professor of economics and finance in the School of Management at the Flint campus of the University of Michigan. Perry holds two graduate degrees in economics (M.A. and Ph.D.) from George Mason University near Washington, D.C. In addition, he holds an MBA degree in finance from the Curtis L. Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. In addition to a faculty appointment at the University of Michigan-Flint, Perry is also a visiting scholar at The American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.
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35 Comments:
Um, was this made in 1958? Where is Alaska?
Look at The True Size of Africa map and then look at the size of Muslim and pre-dominatley Muslim areas of Africa -- and it is "growing"..
Actually the true size of Africa can be measured in the billions of extorted tax dolllars wasted for no obvious return on the money...
Still there are those extra special programs financed by extorted tax dollars that are at best nutty beyond description...
Actually the true size of Africa can be measured in the billions of extorted tax dolllars wasted for no obvious return on the money...
Which is actually very small compared to the billions of extorted tax dollars wasted for no obvious return on the money in, say, farm supports. So I guess you're saying that Africa isn't very big?
Let me play devil's advocate here john thacker, have we as a nation gotten more out of domestic farm subsidies than what we've gotten as a nations after the billions spent over there?
To answer your question though, even though in terms of square miles the 'continent' of Africa is larger than the 'country' of the US just how relavant is it?
And the cultural, linguistic and social sensibilities are about as divided.
"Still there are those extra special programs financed by extorted tax dollars that are at best nutty beyond description..."
The mind boggles. One can't help but wonder how such a study is conducted. Is a test group provided with PCPW by trained workers going door to door each day? Or, are participants required to live at a residence test facility for a period of time with one group receiving PCPW and another control group not receiving it?
And this, the height of nanny-statism:
"We propose to evaluate the feasibility of a post-coital genital hygiene study among men unwilling to be circumcised in Orange Farm, South Africa."
I can just imagine health workers going door to door:
KNOCK KNOCK
"Who's there?"
"Circumcisions-R-Us. We'd like to circumcise you so you won't get sick."
SLAM
"Gee, these people seem unwilling to be circumcised."
WOW! now the bellyaching has shifted to aid to Africa???!!!.....when are you guys gonna start looking in the mirror for the source of your problems instead of always blaming others...now you're down to blaming people who can barely find enough to eat to stay alive...how pathetic!
the reality is that most of US "aid" comes in the form of planes, tanks and guns....
and when actual food is provided by the US government is HAS to be grown in the US.....so in both instances the VAST majority of the money never actually leaves the states.
http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/who-gets-us-foreign-aid.html
What a joke...while some in the US either pat themselves on the back for all the "aid" they provide or complain about it like on this board....the defense contractors and agri conglomerates are raking in the money.....nevermind that all those planes, tanks and guns destabilize regions and cause even more conflict....then the US military moves in to "save the world"...followed by more bellyaching about having to be the "world police"...Guess what? "you break it, you fix it"....NUTS
truth or consequences said...
...now you're down to blaming people who can barely find enough to eat to stay alive...how pathetic!"
Gee, I didn't get that impression from any of the prior comments on this thread. Are you sure you read that here? Perhaps you should re-read them more slowly and carefully.
The only complaints I see seem to agree with you that foreign aid is wasteful, ineffective, and should probably be discontinued.
What would probably be most helpful for those people who can barely find enough to eat to stay alive, is to have governments that would protect their property rights, and a rule of law that upheld and enforced contracts and punished theft and fraud.
It is up to the people involved to provide that form of government for themselves, unless you favor outsiders forcing regime change for humanitarian reasons.
I know a number of people from Gambia and other African countries, so I get details of what happens in the various nations on the continent. The problem with the aid, they say, isn't the money or supplies or the intentions, but rather, where it goes - corrupt government officials. The governments receive the aid with the purpose of distributing it to the needy; instead, they keep it for themselves or their allies, leaving very little for those needing it the most. The Africans I know say better methodology needs implemention to ensure aid goes straight to those intended, not corrupt governments.
"The Africans I know say better methodology needs implemention to ensure aid goes straight to those intended, not corrupt governments."
Do the people you know suggest how this might be accomplished? What can any organization or government from outside do that wouldn't constitute interference with the internal affairs of a sovereign state?
I think it's up to the people involved to make any necessary changes.
hey, Ron H. when someody uses the word "EXTORDED tax dollars"....it says it all
Some day its economic strength will equal its physical size.
Same for south America.
Freedom did not work, colonialism did not work, racial separatism did not work, and sovereign independence seems to be having some problems.
What's next?
Foreign aid us wasteful and inefficient.
You ever give anything to anybody?
Governments that protect their property rights.
Gee, I wish I had one of those too.
I'll bet zoning isn't much if a problem in Africa.
Governments that protect their property rights.
Gee, I wish I had one of those too.
I'll bet zoning isn't much if a problem in Africa.
Hydra
I can't help but notice that little strings of words, some nearly forming complete thoughts, seem to be springing from your keyboard, and finding their way here as short little comments. As nearly as I can tell, you are trying to express an interest in the subject of foreign aid to Africa.
Do yourself a favor before you waste any more effort on heroic but futile attempts to communicate on the subject:
Dambisa Moyo, a really smart lady, and a highly educated economist, has written a book on that very subject. She has an advantage, having been born and raised in Zambia, of first hand knowledge of the subject.
I highly recommend you read it, to gain some knowledge of the harm well intentioned aid is doing in Africa, and what is really needed to help Africans prosper.
Seems to me this map is a striking reminder of the relatively small size of the Good Old U S of A. And of course this graphic only tells a small part of the story. What I would like is an adult dialogue focused on what "aid" we actually provide; what kind of aid might be most productive; the possible connection between our humanitarian and strategic goals.. etc. etc.
"hey, Ron H. when someody uses the word "EXTORDED tax dollars"....it says it all"
All tax dollars are "extorded" (sp). Don't believe it? Then calmly inform that IRS that you want to opt out of paying taxes this year because you need the money more than the govt does. I am sure they will send you a thoughtful fruit basket and tell you to keep your money...you earned it and you deserve to enjoy it in any way you see fit.
"WOW! now the bellyaching has shifted to aid to Africa???!!!.....when are you guys gonna start looking in the mirror for the source of your problems instead of always blaming others...now you're down to blaming people who can barely find enough to eat to stay alive...how pathetic!"...
Thanks truth or consequences for supporting the idea that the clueless actually understand nothing about what happens to extorted tax dollars that are supposed to be helping these people you claim feel so much compassion for...
BTW if YOU think sending money to Africa is a good thing there's nothing stopping YOU from opening your wallet and spreading your largesse far and wide over the continent...
BTW thanks for the chuckle with that Parade link...
What's next? A link from the New York Times?
Maybe you should take a look at the staggering amounts of wasted dollars by the USAID regarding Africa...
Good call Ron H regarding that excellent book, Dead Aid...
What is really needed to help Africa prosper.
--------------//-/-/
You are proposing a different kind of well intentioned aid?
And you think this form is not susceptible to unintended consequences?
Nothing has really worked for Africa yet. Clearly something else is required, but not all aid is wasted or worse. Rather than being dismissive we need better ways to measure results.
"Rather than being dismissive we need better ways to measure results"...
Actually what we need is that for those who think Africa should prosper is these people put their own money where their alledged compassionate claims are...
How about a domestic example?
How many folks think that 'school lunch programs' are a good thing?
How many of those same people would be willing to bring to their own homes a half a dozen of these kids mired in this nanny state program and feed them instead of having some agency do it instead?
I find it hard to believe anyone would want to aid Africa given the long, hopeless history of aiding the continent. Does anyone read about what's going on in Zimbabwe? And note that is what could happen to South Africa?
Africa is a diverse continent with immense natural resources cursed with a populace, in very large part, only interested in leaching and lining pockets rather than improving lives or producing anything.
"Good call Ron H regarding that excellent book, Dead Aid..."
I found it to be a real eye opener. Here's another you might like on a related subject.
"How many of those same people would be willing to bring to their own homes a half a dozen of these kids mired in this nanny state program and feed them instead of having some agency do it instead?"
I think this is a great idea for those who like the school lunch program, but anyone considering such a scheme should consider that they will instantly fall under the Eye of Sauron of all the various government agencies a restaurant does. If you serve people food, even without charging, you are a restaurant.
There you go again, Hydra. You have produced a meaningless and largely irrelevant comment.
Here, I'll show you what I mean:
"Nothing has really worked for Africa yet. Clearly something else is required..."
Well, let's hear it! What is your well thought out recommendation based on some knowledge of the subject?
"...but not all aid is wasted or worse."
Really? How about a reference supporting that claim?
"Rather than being dismissive we need better ways to measure results."
Fine, what do you recommend?
"You are proposing a different kind of well intentioned aid?"
No, Hydra, what I'm proposing is that you educate yourself on this subject before you start typing comments. That book by Ms. Moyo would be a great place to start.
"cursed with a populace, in very large part, only interested in leaching and lining pockets rather than improving lives or producing anything."
While it is true that there are tyrannical rulers and corrupt actors in government, who care nothing for their own people, I would like to think that they are only a small minority.
Our aid dollars, which go directly to these bad actors, help to keep them in power, once they have drained everything they can from their own countries and people.
One country that is not included is Russia. How does it's area compare with Africa?
It seems that Africa (30200 sq km) has about the same surface area as Russia (17000 sq km), Canada (10000 sq km), and India (3200 sq km) combined.
"Do the people you know suggest how this might be accomplished? What can any organization or government from outside do that wouldn't constitute interference with the internal affairs of a sovereign state?"
Unfortunately, they don't. Do I have any ideas of how this can be done? No, I don't.
Hey Ron H, I'm still on the county library's waiting list for 'Green Power Black Death'...:-(
Ron H regarding your 'eye of sauron' comment, well sadly that's true even though most school lunches (locally at least) seem to fail the stated goals of these nanny state programs...
Still there's hope to be had because there might be a new and improved Twinkie diet defense out there...:-)
Hey Ron H, I'm still on the county library's waiting list for 'Green "Power Black Death'...:-("
I see it used at Amazon from $0.97 (+3.99 shipping). Amazon seller denverwestside, who has a 100% positive seller rating, has one for $3 that is 'good - like new'.
From the 'Twinkie diet' article:
"His premise: That in weight loss, pure calorie counting is what matters most -- not the nutritional value of the food."
Duh!!!
And to think, that guy gets paid to work out profound conclusions like that.
Check out Leopold's ghost for details on Africa.
http://www.amazon.com/King-Leopolds-Ghost-Heroism-Colonial/dp/0618001905
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