Bring the Africans to Kansas
Philip Greenspun was just in Africa doing some assessement on technology related stuff. It's somewhat interesting, the post which resonates the most considers the cost of getting things done in Africa as opposed to Kansas:
African Internet has already been discussed in these pages. Basically, it doesn’t exist and, where it does, the costs are 10-100X higher than in the rest of the world. A handful of insiders make some good money from the telecom monopoly, but the effect on business is devastating.
Until these issues are resolved, it is hard to see how foreign aid to Africa will lead to sustainable growth. Currently, it would be much cheaper to bring skilled Africans to Kansas than trying to do business in Africa. Housing costs in Kansas are about the same as in Africa. Security is free in Kansas. Telecommunications are basically free. Getting around by airline to see customers will cost 25-50% of what it would cost from Africa. If capital investment is required, the cost of capital will be much lower in Kansas since investors won’t fear a Zimbabwean-style expropriation or disintegration.
If you haven't read Greenspun before, his dry sarcasm may be a bit of a downer, but in many ways I think it rings true. The one thing he leaves out of the post is that not only does this drive growth and investment away from Africa, many an African with a fighting chance is exported to the first world as well. I think it's the loss of people that hurts the most.
I'm going to be bold and solution oriented. I'll tell you what I'd do if I became an African president:
1. Privatize all telecommunications infrastructure. (Angering telecom cronies)
2. Privatize physical mail. (Angering postal cronies)
3. Privatize air transport by allowing competition. (Angering transportation cronies)
4. Eliminate tarrifs on all imported commodities excepting luxury items. (Angering that guy in customs who makes his money off of bribes)
5. Take money from countries that have a human rights priority, with the understanding that everyone looks out for themselves but still believing that money from kleptocracies, dictatorships, totalitarians, and terrorists must be avoided.
6. Tax free businesses, incentives with government money for foreign companies to set up shop.
Mental note: I'll be keeping an eye on what ideas TED has to offer.
9:27:21 PM 
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