-
Read The Book
Before the welfare state
-
The Greycoat Hospital
The Greycoat Hospital was once a workhouse. It has since been a hospital and a school. It has a very long welfare history. It has now been taken over by the state.
-
The Greycoat Hospital
-
Education and State
Licence
Stats
“The right to undercut is the privilege of the poor – of poor individuals, poor countries, poor businesses. It should not be undermined.”
For those of us who have long been suspicious about ‘fair trade’, here is at least part of the argument for being so (slightly edited) : …the Fair Trade doctrine is pernicious, for all its genuinely good intentions ….it is … Continue reading
Posted by James Bartholomew
Indexed in Foreign aid
“Fair trade favours those who have already moved out of the most basic poverty”
I have long been slightly resentful of “Fair Trade” labels because of the implicit suggestion that all other trade is unfair. The slogan has seemed anti-capitalist in making this implicit suggestion and since capitalism is the source of prosperity around … Continue reading
Posted by James Bartholomew
Indexed in Foreign aid
Failing state education on a spectacular scale
Gordon Brown would like to send taxpayers’ money to provide more education in Africa, by which he means more state education. There are far better ways of helping Africa. Below is part of an article in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph. It … Continue reading
MIllions die because of government provision of water
We are regularly told in Britain that water is vital to the health of many millions of people in Africa and elsewhere. So it is. But never is it suggested that the reason there is such a problem with water … Continue reading
Posted by James Bartholomew
Indexed in Foreign aid, Media, including BBC bias, Waste in public services
Are the world’s rich countries turning Africa into the biggest welfare dependant in history?
Under pressure from the “Make Poverty History” campaign, Tony Blair and the other leaders of the world’s richest nations have now agreed a massive increase in aid to Africa. Most people believe that such aid will do good, even if … Continue reading
Posted by James Bartholomew
Indexed in Foreign aid
How foreign aid might be damaging Africa (Part Two)
A report published by the Globalization Institute suggests that aid to Africa actually reduces its economic growth. It is a radical claim and hard to prove. As ever, in reviewing the evidence, one must bear in mind that correlation does … Continue reading
Posted by James Bartholomew
Indexed in Foreign aid
How Live8 may actually increase starvation in Africa
Moeletsi Mbeki, brother of Thabo Mbeki and deputy chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs, wrote an open letter to Bob Geldof in the Mail on Sunday. It was all the more devastating for being politely expressed by … Continue reading
Posted by James Bartholomew
Indexed in Foreign aid, Media, including BBC bias, Waste in public services
Private education in a remote part of Africa better than a comprehensive in Britain
This letter in the Daily Telegraph today provides good anecdotal support: Sir – How to rescue Africa from Mr Blair’s and Mr Brown’s good intentions? James Bartholomew (Opinion, June 30) [this posting] cited Professor James Tooley’s research to indicate how … Continue reading
What’s wrong with free education for Africa
One of the ways in which Gordon Brown and Tony Blair think they can help Africa is by offering free education to everyone. It sounds like an obviously good thing. Wouldn’t it be marvellous if every young African could learn … Continue reading
Posted by James Bartholomew
Indexed in Foreign aid
Newsnight: Tooley in Africa
While there is time, I recommend you have a look at the part of Newsnight last night about private education in a slum in Africa, presented by Professor James Tooley. The programme is here. The section concerned starts after 32 … Continue reading