http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15731508
With the major economic downturn hitting economies all over the world, developing countries could be greatly hurt without the support of richer nations such as the US and UK. However, middle income nations such as Brazil, Russia, and India have stepped in to pick up the slack in loans. The article discuses the possible implications of this move by the middle income nations to help the developing nations that are still in the early stages, stay on their feet.
I wonder how this kind of unexpected shift in foreign market influence could effect the theory that we read in the Bad Samaritans book. Will nations that have yet to reach the top of the ladder still try to kick it down for the nations that are farther down the ladder still? They have a greater incentive to take advantage of such nations because of they need the money even more. But taking a constructivist look at it, they can identify much more closely to the problem than more developed and alienated nations like the US.
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Chang provides examples of Bad Samaritans in the book, two being the US and the UK. Because of this, it is not unlikely that these nations will continue to exploit the under-developments of other nations. In addition, with middle-income nations "picking up the slack," nations such as the US and the UK could be even further better off. Ironically, with a large national debt, the US, in situations such as these, is still better off than many other nations.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting issue in relation to Chang's book. As John said, he pointed out a few examples of wealthy Bad Samaritans, but he did not success the role that middle-income nations may play in the development of poorer countries. I think the tendency in most liberal states would be to make money in any way possible, and exploiting less-developed nations is often a convenient way to do this. Countries like Brazil, Russia, and India might be inclined to provide "aid" to and trade with countries like Kenya, Thailand, and Ecuador. This relationship could lead to exploitation in the same way that the US's or UK's "trade relationships" with Brazil AND Kenya might. Thus, nations are always taking advantage of all of the countries less developed than themselves. Poor countries should be just as leery of aid from India as they are of American aid.
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