In the 1970s Richard Easterlin wrote an article titled “Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence,” in which he described what is now known as the Easterlin Paradox and became the father of happiness economics. The Easterlin Paradox, simply stated, suggests that people do not get happier as they get richer. …
Category: Economic Development
Feb 15
Mozambique under water…Again!
In late January disaster struck Mozambique. The Limpopo River which arcs across 4 countries burst its banks. Around 140 000 people woke up to severe flooding, and in an instant they had lost everything. The death toll currently stands at 105, with 250 000 people directly affected. UNICEF Mozambique estimates that $30 million is still …
Feb 05
When the Past Dictates the Future
France’s desire to build a relationship with Algeria may always be thwarted by colonial past. History has a way of making its presence known, years after the events that helped shape it are forgotten by a majority of the world. It is almost as though it wants to remind us that accepting the past is …
Jan 28
Jordanian Elections: Tipping Point
Jordan has largely stayed out of the news since the start of the Arab Spring, as the country has–so far–managed to avoid any major shake-ups or protests. This may be about to change, however. Resentment against King Abdullah II has been building for some time, and these elections were a way for his government to show …
Jan 10
A Culture of Consumption: Living in a Material World
I’ll let you in on a secret. You know that shirt you received on Christmas? The one that you were thrilled to wear the first time around? Slightly amused by the second time? And all too soon, you realized the novelty was gone? In a couple of months, the same shirt will inevitably end up …
Dec 18
Doomsday Tourism
With the End of the World fast approaching, I thought it would be interesting to look at the impact fears of Earth’s imminent destruction are having on tourism. It may seem like an odd line of inquiry, but in fact many people have flocked to areas believed to be, for various reasons, the only place(s) …
Dec 10
Community Empowerment in Haiti
A great sense of empowerment is needed for the people of Haiti, who remain in a housing crisis two years after the earthquake. The empowerment of people in need is paramount to creating change. The best Aid workers are sometimes individuals who have lived in the communities needing help and are invested in their communities. …
Nov 20
Obama Visits Myanmar
I’ve written a considerable amount about Myanmar here on Not Enough Good, so of course I was excited when I heard that President Obama was planning a trip to Southeast Asia that included a historic stop in Myanmar. This is the first time a sitting American president has visited the country, and both Bill Clinton …
Aug 06
Abortion-Included Tours
“Water always finds its way” I’ve written a little bit about health-related tourism in the past, specifically Penang, Malaysia’s efforts to use high-quality–yet very affordable–hospitals and doctors to encourage tourists to visit the state and undergo medical procedures, but, as you probably guessed from the title, this post is a little different. The Turkish government is …
Jul 23
Economic Boom in Myanmar
As you may recall, I’ve written a couple posts about Myanmar (or Burma) in the past, though mostly in the context of tourism. I’d like to switch gears a bit this time and write about another new opportunity for the country: a stock market. Myanmar’s legislative body, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, recently approved …