Afghanistan's big deposits of lithium, copper and gold have some economists worried. As we noted earlier this week, the discovery of natural resources often leads to conflict and corruption, which in turn hurt economic growth.
But a handful of economists are pushing an idea they say could break the natural resource curse.
Take all money that comes in from foreign companies — for lithium in Afghanistan, oil in Nigeria, natural gas in Bolivia — and give it to the citizens. Literally have a government official sit down with piles of cash, maybe with some international oversight, and divvy it up.
That system would create a strong incentive for the people to keep on eye on what the government's doing, says Todd Moss of the Center for Global Development.
"If you received $500 last year, and this year it's only $400, you're going to ask some pretty hard questions," he says. ...NPR
If all the royalties BP pays to the US government had gone directly to the people living in Gulf Coast states, what might have happened? Would the beaches and wetlands and fishing grounds have been better protected? Would employment be more secure? Would there be higher employment? Would the Gulf be less polluted?
Just askin'.
