Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty
Abhijit V. Banerjee
Top 10 Best Quotes
“poverty is not just a lack of money; it is not having the capability to realize one’s full potential as a human being.”
“But then it is easy, too easy, to sermonize about the dangers of paternalism and the need to take responsibility for our own lives, from the comfort of our couch in our safe and sanitary home. Aren't we, those who live in the rich world, the constant beneficiaries of a paternalism now so thoroughly embedded into the system that we hardly notice it?”
“We must arm ourselves with patience and wisdom and listen to the poor what they want. This is the best way to avoid the trap of ignorance, ideology and inertia on our side.”
“The point is simple: talking about the problems of the world without talking about some accessible solutions is the way to paralysis rather than progress.”
“If the rules make such a difference, then it becomes very important who gets to make them.”
“Awareness of our problems thus does not necessarily mean that they get solved. It may just mean that we are able to perfectly anticipate where we will fail.”
“A combination of unrealistic goals, unnecessarily pessimistic expectations, and the wrong incentives for teachers contributes to ensure that education systems in developing countries fail their two main tasks: giving everyone a sound basic set of skills, and identifying talent.”
“It is not easy to escape from poverty, but a sense of possibility and a little bit of well-targeted help (a piece of information, a little nudge) can sometimes have surprisingly large effects. On the other hand, misplaced expectations, the lack of faith where it is needed, and seemingly minor hurdles can be devastating. A push on the right lever can make a huge difference, but it is often difficult to know where that lever is. Above all, it is clear that no single lever will solve every problem.”
“There is always some cheap pleasant thing to tempt you.”
“For each successful entrepreneur in the Silicon Valley or elsewhere, many have had to fail.”
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Book Keywords:
paternalism, chocolat, skeptics, poverty, patience, rules, economics, strategy
