This is intriguing, but what if the main indirect cause of death in Africa is overpopulation? Depending on the method by which the life is saved, you might not actually do much good by saving it. It’s been touted, for example, that food aid in Africa has been bad for its inhabitants in the long-term. If there is evidence that there are ways to permanently improve conditions to that extent for that cheap, then this would be very compelling.
If there is evidence that there are ways to permanently improve conditions to that extent for that cheap
This is intriguing, but what if the main indirect cause of death in Africa is overpopulation?
I am not an expert on development in Africa, but my guess is that there is no single cause to the overall problem. Africa’s population density is 26 people per km^2 source, whereas the EU’s population density is 114 people per km^2 Source. Thus it is probably the case that Africa could easily sustain its current population if it were more economically developed.
Reducing the population artificially, whether by force or by education wouldn’t make the problem magically go away, though it may help as part of an overall strategy.
If one is interested in charitable projects to improve overall African standards of living, take a look at the Copenhagen Consensus. Improvements in infrastructure, peacekeeping, health and womens’ education are all needed.
I think the main reason food aid has been criticized is that it is often implemented in a way which a) empowers dictators or b) reduces profit opportunities for for African farmers and food distributors which reduces their incentive to invest in improving their farming or other businesses.
IOW, over-population is not the source of the negative externalities.
This is intriguing, but what if the main indirect cause of death in Africa is overpopulation? Depending on the method by which the life is saved, you might not actually do much good by saving it. It’s been touted, for example, that food aid in Africa has been bad for its inhabitants in the long-term. If there is evidence that there are ways to permanently improve conditions to that extent for that cheap, then this would be very compelling.
I am not an expert on development in Africa, but my guess is that there is no single cause to the overall problem. Africa’s population density is 26 people per km^2 source, whereas the EU’s population density is 114 people per km^2 Source. Thus it is probably the case that Africa could easily sustain its current population if it were more economically developed.
Reducing the population artificially, whether by force or by education wouldn’t make the problem magically go away, though it may help as part of an overall strategy.
If one is interested in charitable projects to improve overall African standards of living, take a look at the Copenhagen Consensus. Improvements in infrastructure, peacekeeping, health and womens’ education are all needed.
I think the main reason food aid has been criticized is that it is often implemented in a way which a) empowers dictators or b) reduces profit opportunities for for African farmers and food distributors which reduces their incentive to invest in improving their farming or other businesses.
IOW, over-population is not the source of the negative externalities.