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From: Dani Moore <dani@unc.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:287] Re: World Bank Resources
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Mary Ann Corley wrote:
> For those of you interested in issues related to world poverty, the World
> Bank is a good resource.
Hello, Mary Ann and others,
The World Bank documents are indeed useful for learning more about poverty
and global economic issues. However, I would urge members of this listserv to
also explore other sources, including those that are critical of World Bank
policies. This year's demonstrations against the World Bank, International
Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization in Seattle, DC, Prague, and
elsewhere invite us to think more critically about the research and policies
coming out of the World Bank and to decide where we will stand as the debate
continues.
One in-depth analysis of these institutions is the Center for Economic Policy
Research's "The Emperor Has No Growth: Declining Economic Growth Rates in the
Era of Globalization"
"Globalization and the policies of its most powerful advocates, the
International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, have come under increasing
criticism in recent years. In the United States, the median real wage is
about the same today as it was 27 years ago. This means that the majority of
the labor force has failed to share in the gains from economic growth over
the last 27 years. That is drastically different from the previous 27 years,
during which the typical wage increased by about 80% in real terms….
"The failure of the last two decades of globalization, structural
adjustment, privatization, and "market fundamentalism" to raise living
standards worldwide, and the dramatic decline in growth, especially in
underdeveloped countries, should be cause for serious concern. The IMF and
the World Bank should be using their enormous capacity for research to try to
find out what has gone wrong. Most importantly, they should not pretend that
they have the necessary expertise nor the answers to the difficult and often
country-specific problems of economic growth and development, for it is clear
that they do not. They could play a much more constructive role by helping to
cancel the crushing, unpayable debt of the poorer countries and allowing each
nation to choose its own path to economic growth and development."
Entire report at
http://www.cepr.net/images/IMF/The_Emperor_Has_No_Growth.htm
=================
A brief fact sheet: "How International Monetary Fund (IMF)/ World Bank
structural adjustment programs have increased poverty around the world"
"Structural adjustment -- the standard IMF/World Bank policy package
which calls for slashing government spending, privatization, and opening up
countries to exploitative foreign investment, among other measures -- has
deepened poverty around the world. In the two with the most structural
adjustment experience, per capita income has stagnated
(Latin America) or plummeted (Africa). Structural
adjustment has also contributed to rising income and wealth inequality in the
developing world."
More at http://www.50years.org/s26/factsheet2.html
=================
One of the most criticized World Bank policies is the imposition of "user
fees" which force the poorest residents of countries receiving loans to pay
fees for education and health care. The U.S. FY 2001 Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill includes a provision requiring the United States to
oppose any IMF, World Bank or regional development bank loan that includes
user fees or service charges on poor people for primary education or primary
health care.
More at http://www.50years.org/update/userfee.html
=================
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how global economic issues are
related to literacy and education. As U.S. residents, we live in the country
with the most powerful voice and vote in these institutions. And, along with
other G7 nations, we benefit the most from increasing wealth inequality
around the world. What will we do, then, to create a world in which racial
and economic justice are possible?
Best to all,
Dani Moore
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Dani Moore dani@unc.edu 919.962.1542
Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education (SCALE)
http://www.readwriteact.org/
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