This blog contains posts and comments written by students in Dr. Tufte's economics classes at Southern Utah University.
12/03/2005
Serious Problem With Youth Unemployment Throughout Africa
I came across an article today that really opened my eyes. The unemployment article article that I read highlighted issues surrounding African's lack employment among its young people. According to the article, Well over half of Africa's poulation is made up of people younger than 25, with 3/4 of the population jobless who are younger than 30! It is no wonder that Africa's economy is suffering so much. With limited opportunity, and propects for prosperity, many young people are attempting to uproot to more western regions, in the hopes of finding work. It seems amazing to me that in 2005 such conditions exist. Sadly, however, much of the poverty and corruption that people face in Africa is more the more the norm than not throughout the world.
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3 comments:
People aren't dumb Tom. If they lack education it is probably because it is an investment that doesn't offer them much return (the same goes for competitive skills). Avoiding HIV exposure is an investment as well, but why invest in having safe sex when so much of the rest of your life is unsafe?
These countries are failing because it doesn't make economic sense for their citizens to plan for the future. Better institutions and better incentives for bureaucrats are the source of that problem.
What Dr Tuft is arguing makes sense. People whose future looks bleak due to the lack of any economic prospects are likely to resort to unsafe acts. It is like why would one want to be safe in one aspect while the whole situation surrounding them are not safe.
In a recent survey about classes in Soweto, I and a colleague have come accros some sadening situations, in which HIV positive people go for days on empty stomach. Therefore, it somehow makes sense for them to start asking themselves why they are living, when their future holds no promise at all.
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