Economic Development Flaws and Failures Examined
The American Information Resource Center hosted an extraordinary gathering of a dozen Burkinabe movers and shakers May 28, at which the Nouveaux Horizon translation of former World Bank economist William Easterly’s book - The Elusive Quest for Growth – was reviewed, analyzed and discussed. Moderated by Professor Sawadogo of the Burkina Free University, the two hour program saw participants exchanging experiences and expectations drawn from their professional careers as development specialists in government, academia, and the NGO community. For the most part, they agreed with Easterly’s thesis that development projects undertaken in Africa over the past 50 years have consistently failed to achieve their objectives -- or even to improve the quality of life for the projects’ supposed beneficiaries – as a result of poor planning, mismanagement, inept oversight, political corruption, unrealistic goals, and the routine waving of project donors’ standards and stipulations. There was also general consensus that Easterly’s call for clear performance incentives, strict project accountability, and a fully engaged host government should be required for all future economic development programs. Book discussion participants represented a variety of public and private institutions involved in national development -- including MCA-Burkina, the Burkinabe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ONAC, CNTB, and MAECR.