I think we need a bigger sofa

It's easy to solve world poverty

When the IMF comes round, the whole country should turn off the lights and hide behind the sofa

by: Mark Steel

Solving the problems of Africa shouldn't be tricky - it's world leaders who make it complicated. Whenever it's an issue, a senator will make a statement such as: "It's economically naive to imagine you can make someone better off just by giving them money."

And this will be said in a fatherly tone that suggests "We know best what's good for Africa."...

Spokesmen from organisations with names like "The Inter-Galactic Forum for Fiscal Enrichingment" appear on Newsnight, with the White House in the background. And with the intonations of an automated banking service they'll say: "If we just give these countries money, the evidence is they will fritter it away.

"But by binding the aid to a series of trade agreements, we ensure they will spend it wisely, on paying back the interest on the money we loaned them last month."

continued...

The Independent via Global Echo