Delroy Chuck
WHICH COMES FIRST, human or economic development? Can a country develop its economy without a corresponding emphasis on human development? No doubt, human and economic developments tend to go together. However, whereas economic development drives and improves social and human capital, the reverse is not always true.
The countries across the globe that have prioritised and focused on economic development have generally done well and can now focus on improving their human capital. The world is fast discovering that economic development brings peace, human progress and social fulfilment. Compare South and North Korea, one people with two different systems, or the former East and West Germany. Under socialism, East Germany and North Korea concentrated on human development almost to the exclusion of economic expansion and the results were simply disastrous. Even now, North Korea is one of the few countries where educated and skilful people face starvation and are deprived of the benefits of human progress. The same applies to Cuba where socialism, with its emphasis on human capital, has denied a potentially prosperous country of the benefits of modern society.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNDER SOCIALISM
Yet, even under socialism, economic development, if emphasised, can occur. The comparison of China before and after 1978 is a telling example of the importance of prioritising economic development. After the emergence of Deng Xiaoping, who hitherto had to walk around in a dunce cap, but took command in 1977 and declared 'to get rich is glorious', China opened up to foreign investment and concentrated on developing its economy. Today, China has become one of the driving forces in the world economy. Investors are eager to get into China, where enormous profits are reaped. The average wage of Chinese workers is under 300 US dollars per month, but they do much better than the tens of millions who live on less than one US dollar a day. With its economy booming, China can now concentrate on improving its social and human capital.
SUCCESS STORY OF EUROPE
Ireland was the sick man of Europe, then in 1988 the two political parties reached consensus on the way forward, with the emphasis on pushing economic development. Ireland is now the success story of Europe, attracting capital from around the world, and able to shift resources towards research and strengthening its social and educational facilities. If the Cayman Islands concentrated on human development before opening up its economy to off shore banking, it probably would still be a fishing village. But, soon after it was abandoned by Jamaica in and around 1974, it became the financial capital of the Caribbean. At present, Caymanians, most of whom could greatly improve their human skills and capability, enjoy an enviable quality of life. Imagine the Cayman Islands that once depended on Jamaica for virtually everything is now an attractive place for Jamaicans to visit, work and hide.
In 1989, the present government won the General Election on the slogan 'We put people first' and Professor Carl Stone noted that politics won over economics. Ever since, politics has continued to overwhelm and override every economic consideration. This government puts education first yet the quality deteriorates. Every educational institution is in desperate need of resources. Even after the historical parliamentary consensus between the Opposition and the Government on education, the Government is unable to implement the proposals, as it is broke. Worse, our graduates with their certificates and qualifications cannot find jobs here and, consequently, expensive human capital migrates to distant lands in search of economic opportunities.
In truth, Jamaica's main problems can easily be traced to its failure to make economic development the top priority. Without economic development, nothing worthwhile is really possible - hence, the famous statement, 'it takes cash to care'. When people cannot feed and shelter themselves adequately, it becomes challenging, perhaps impossible, to get certified academically and develop latent human skills and creativity. Yes, we must look after our human capital and pump resources into our educational and health facilities, but it is only sustainable if we have a developing and thriving economy.
So, if we are to stop Jamaica's decline and disintegration, the main emphasis must be to unleash the people's entrepreneurial skills, find ways and means to reopen the hundreds of factories and businesses closed during the past twelve years, cut and chop the public sector to make more money available to the private sector for expansion and development, and create the economic environment for productive businesses to open, expand and succeed. Only then will we ever have the resources for human development.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at Delchuck@Hotmail.Com.
