Achieving food security is a priority of political parties regardless of ideology. Therefore, countries work assiduously to ensure that this project is accomplished. The proactive approach to tackling the issue is admirable, but in their pursuit of food security, some countries adopt counterproductive policies. The assumption that protectionism alleviates the risks of food security is still embraced by many policymakers when there is no correlation.Such muddled thinking stems from a misunderstanding of what food security entails. If the goal of food security is to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the population, then the source of food is immaterial. Realistically, small countries constrained by geographical limitations achieve food security by importing.
Read More »Articles by Lipton Matthews
The “New” South Africa Is Now a Newly-Failed State: Don’t Look for Things to Improve
February 26, 2024While South Africa’s political authorities pursue genocide accusations against other countries, those same leaders are destroying the nation’s economy and basic infrastructure. This is a failed state.
Original Article: The "New" South Africa Is Now a Newly-Failed State: Don’t Look for Things to Improve
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Read More »Understanding the Trump Phenomenon: It’s Not What the Elites Think
February 18, 2024Political and economic elites predicted a doomsday scenario when Trump was elected in 2016, but the reality of his presidency didn’t come close to matching the apocalyptic rhetoric that accompanied it.
Original Article: Understanding the Trump Phenomenon: It’s Not What the Elites Think
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Read More »The “New” South Africa Is Now a Newly-Failed State: Don’t Look for Things to Improve
February 13, 2024Recently, South Africa evoked opposition in some quarters by bringing a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice on the account that the latter is perpetuating genocide against Palestinians. Israel’s response to the terror of Hamas has been widely denounced by the mainstream press, but irrespective of the legitimacy of South Africa’s claims, this matter has brought South Africa to the forefront of public discourse, and as such, an examination of the country is necessary.
South Africa is a country mired in social and economic turmoil. After the collapse of the apartheid regime in 1994, many thought that the nation would embark on an era of sustained prosperity, but this ambition failed to materialize. Instead, the African National Congress became
Jamaica Still Struggles Economically, But There Is Hope for the Future
January 12, 2024Jamaica is a small island in the British West Indies, but despite its stature, this tiny nation has elicited the attention of global elites. In politics, Jamaica’s voting behavior at the United Nations is closely monitored by her neighbors in the Caribbean and the global community because she commands influence. Due to historical and cultural complexities, Jamaica is a magnet for academic research, and writing about the country has manifested into a cottage industry. Consistent with her fame, those who study Jamaica tend to be heavyweights in academia. Luminaries from Jeffrey Williamson to Josh Lerner pen intellectual missiles on Jamaica’s economy.
Always in the den of controversy, Jamaica’s recent economic performance has motivated a lively debate between
Authorities in Jamaica Endorse Cancel Culture
January 9, 2024Jamaicans are willing to accept authoritarian behavior from the state in the name of rejecting colonialism.
Original Article: Authorities in Jamaica Endorse Cancel Culture
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Read More »Africa Doesn’t Need More Government Aid; It Needs Free Markets
December 13, 2023With a large regional market and youthful population, Africa should be on the cusp of greatness. Yet instead, it remains the poorest continent on earth. Analysts are conceding that Africa’s outlook is gloomy because the region is on track to miss poverty reduction goals. Successive African administrations have consulted multiple strategies to tackle the scourge of poverty with varying degrees of success; however, the plague of poverty has been persistent.
Combatting poverty in Africa is indeed a daunting task since some countries have yet to overcome geographical and environmental limitations. For example, the ravaging effects of the tsetse fly on the food market amount to an annual loss of $5 billion. Achieving developmental targets becomes even more elusive when
Israel: A Rich Nation Receiving the Bulk of US Foreign Aid
December 6, 2023Why is Israel a primary benefactor of United States foreign aid? Is Israel a proxy for US imperialism in the Middle East? Does American aid to Israel benefit constituencies other than the defense industry? The ongoing feud between Israel and Palestine has raised these questions to the forefront of public debate. Israel is the leading recipient of American foreign aid, despite its wealth. In 2022, The Economist ranked Israel as the fourth most successful economy in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
A prosperous country such as Israel should hardly be a contender for America’s benevolence; hence, America’s commitment to sponsoring Israel strikes people as odd. However, some observe that Israel plays a critical role in bolstering American
Haiti May Have Won Independence, But It Is Not Independent of Chaos and Poverty
October 10, 2023Haiti famously won its independence from France during a slave revolt, but being independent has not brought political stability or prosperity. Instead, Haitians struggle to get by in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country.
Original Article: Haiti May Have Won Independence, But It Is Not Independent of Chaos and Poverty
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Read More »American Prosperity Is Greater than Most of Us Realize
September 8, 2023Traveling was once a luxury for the rich, but today even working-class people enjoy vacations. In America, people have gotten so wealthy that planning summer vacations is a priority for many families. Living standards have improved so tremendously that elite amenities are now commonplace. Nearly 90 percent of American homes rely on air-conditioning, and 92 percent of households have access to at least one vehicle.
Relative to the globe, most Americans are high-income people. People who are considered poor in America would be rich in developing countries. Compared to other rich countries in Europe, America is also doing remarkably well. A 2019 study published by the think tank Just Facts shows that after accounting for all income, philanthropy, and noncash welfare
Voting with Their Feet: The Lure of Migration
September 2, 2023People migrate for many reasons, including moving to a better economy and escaping political persecution. But one thing is certain: people are going to vote with their feet.
Original Article: "Voting with Their Feet: The Lure of Migration"
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Read More »Want to Follow Your Dreams? The First Step Involves Hard Work
August 4, 2023Adults tell young people to follow their dreams, but one cannot follow one’s vision without realizing what it takes to get there.
Original Article: "Want to Follow Your Dreams? The First Step Involves Hard Work"
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Read More »Belgian Colonialism of the Congo: Facts and Fiction
August 3, 2023Like many colonial ventures, Belgium’s involvement in the Congo had some successes—and many failures.
Original Article: "Belgian Colonialism of the Congo: Facts and Fiction"
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Read More »Real Progress versus the Progressives
August 3, 2023Depending on one’s perspective, technology can be viewed as either an opportunity or a threat. Some people celebrate technical advances while others show disdain. Entrepreneurs are frequently eager to capitalize on the potential advantages of new technologies, but where entrepreneurs see room for dynamism, naysayers see doom. In this story, entrepreneurs are akin to wizards who use the magic of technology to improve the world, and naysayers are prophets of pessimism.
In his insightful book The Wizard and the Prophet: Two Remarkable Scientists and Their Dueling Visions to Shape Tomorrow’s World, Charles Mann illustrates the conflicts between wizards and prophets, who both advocate different approaches to solving problems. Wizards trust in the liberating power of
Belgian Colonialism of the Congo: Facts and Fiction
July 15, 2023Stories cannot substitute for historical facts even when people want these stories to be true. With the influence of Black Lives Matter, resurrecting the atrocities of Western colonialism has become fashionable. The death of George Floyd revived a torrent of anticolonialism sentiment in Western societies fueled by resounding demands for governments to atone for the sins of colonialism. Although the colonial legacy of Western powers is tainted by dastardly acts, exaggerations of violence must be condemned. Using history as a political tool only pollutes public discourse in the long run.
Listening to activists is quite different from reading an academic study. Mainstream outlets will inform readers that Europeans committed atrocities in Africa and the West Indies,
Technology Is Meaningless without Entrepreneurship
June 20, 2023While many believe that technology is key to a growing economy, technology is useless without entrepreneurship, which develops uses for technology.
Original Article: "Technology Is Meaningless without Entrepreneurship"
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Read More »Why Barbados Advanced Economically While Jamaica’s Growth Lagged
June 14, 2023Onlookers often cannot fathom why Barbados and Jamaica have delivered such divergent outcomes despite their similar history as former colonies of England. Both countries achieved independence in the 1960s and inherited British law and institutions. Yet Barbados eclipsed her peers to become the pride of the developing world, whereas Jamaica recorded years of anemic growth and institutional degradation. However, digging deeper into history reveals that Barbados pursued different political economy paths from Jamaica.
Unlike Jamaica, Barbados was a settlers’ colony where planters were devoted to institution building rather than living off profits in England. Bajan planters thought that they represented the best of the West Indies. As gentlemen planters, elites aspired
Taxation as a Weapon against Prosperity
June 13, 2023The current regime wants to use taxation not simply as a means to collect revenue for the government, but as a weapon against economic prosperity itself.
Original Article: "Taxation as a Weapon against Prosperity"
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Read More »Individualism in the US Has Helped Make It an Economic Success
June 11, 2023Individualism, while condemned in some cultures, has helped make this country economically successful. Will the influx of immigrants from cultures that devalue individualism reverse that success?
Original Article: "Individualism in the US Has Helped Make It an Economic Success"
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Read More »Technology Is Meaningless without Entrepreneurship
June 7, 2023Technocrats frequently pressure the US government to increase R and D as a strategy to upstage China. The assumption is that public R and D will lead to innovation and economic growth because research generates the science that spurs innovation. Yet the formula is mistaken, for history has shown that science often lags technology. Innovations prior to the advent of modern science in Europe occurred without crucial advancements in scientific knowledge.
But this does not discount the relevance of science since, according to economic historian Joel Mokyr, the industrial revolution in Europe did not phase out like earlier episodes of industrial progress because Europe had developed an epistemic base to fuel scientific and technical advancements. Technology can be
The “Buy Black” Movement: Divisive or a Boon to Black Entrepreneurs?
June 1, 2023Calls for black consumers to "Buy Black" can be interpreted as socially divisive, but they are also a way to encourage black entrepreneurs in a free market.
Original Article: "The "Buy Black" Movement: Divisive or a Boon to Black Entrepreneurs?"
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Read More »Individualism in the US Has Helped Make It an Economic Success
May 31, 2023Immigration has raised concerns in some about America’s demographic future. Some propose that an influx of migrants with foreign worldviews will fracture American society. This argument is based on the finding that the diversity generated by immigration deters social trust.
Trust is a crucial ingredient for societies to thrive by establishing collaborative institutions. Trusting societies are more cooperative and innovative because when people trust each other, they are more likely to share information. Trust also makes it easier to do business by lowering transaction costs.
People will expedite the business process when they have confidence in the integrity of their partners. Because trust is a stimulant for social progress, concerns that immigration will corrode
Progressives Want to Eliminate Wealthy Entrepreneurs but Need the Wealth They Create
May 27, 2023Modern culture is biased against those that are rich even while depending upon the wealth that successful entrepreneurs have created.
Original Article: "Progressives Want to Eliminate Wealthy Entrepreneurs but Need the Wealth They Create"
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Read More »Taxation as a Weapon against Prosperity
May 25, 2023The Economist magazine in a recent editorial painted a rather positive image of the American economy. After encountering setbacks, the American economy often registers a buoyant recovery. Despite competition from rivals, America has retained her position as the world’s top economy. Some are bewildered by America’s enduring prosperity, but is it reasonable to expect less from a country designed to do business?
The American Constitution is a fierce protector of property rights and economic freedom. Respect for property rights is so ingrained in the American legal system that for legal purposes corporations are considered as people. Because of this special status, American corporations are poised to defend themselves from government encroachment. A consequence of
Was Japanese Colonialism the Engine of Later Prosperity for Korea and Taiwan? Probably Not
May 23, 2023While Japan made some technological transfers to these places, prosperity came to them later, with the advent of free-market economies.
Original Article: "Was Japanese Colonialism the Engine of Later Prosperity for Korea and Taiwan? Probably Not"
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Read More »Historical Effects of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
May 16, 2023While the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade have been well documented, people other than slave traders and slaveholders benefitted from it, with some surprising results.
Original Article: "Historical Effects of the Transatlantic Slave Trade"
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Read More »ESG: Another Fraudulent Hustle That Progressive Elites Have Foisted on the Economy
May 12, 2023In their attempts to remake the economy, progressive elites are pushing ESG. What they forget is that the economy runs on real things, not ideology.
Original Article: "ESG: Another Fraudulent Hustle That Progressive Elites Have Foisted on the Economy"
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Read More »Progressives Want to Eliminate Wealthy Entrepreneurs but Need the Wealth They Create
May 11, 2023Being perceived as anti–working class is a cardinal sin in American politics. Working-class people are seen as the unappreciated engine of American growth. Hillary Clinton discovered this lesson when she was criticized for calling Donald Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables.” But interestingly, expressing contempt for the upper class is quite tolerable.
Rich people are frequently ridiculed by comedians and depicted as snobs in popular culture. Shows like SpongeBob SquarePants and The Simpsons present affluent characters in an unflattering light. Such characters are seldom portrayed as virtuous entrepreneurs who are rewarded for delivering value. Usually, viewers are led to think that the rich are the source of all social ills.
Typically, negative depictions
Was Japanese Colonialism the Engine of Later Prosperity for Korea and Taiwan? Probably Not
May 8, 2023Mainstream historians attribute the postwar economic success of South Korea and Taiwan to the legacy of Japanese colonialism. The Japanese are credited with providing new technologies, critical infrastructure, and an efficient state that enabled industrial progress in South Korea and Taiwan. Both Taiwan and Korea benefitted from the successful adoption of Japanese technologies and recorded industrial growth under imperial rule.
Moreover, during 1913–38, Taiwan and South Korea experienced rapid per capita gross domestic product growth accompanied by broad social transformations. Scholars describe Japan’s state-building project in ex-colonies as having the features of a developmental state. Unlike Western colonialism, the legacies of Japanese rule are earnestly
ESG: Another Fraudulent Hustle That Progressive Elites Have Foisted on the Economy
April 27, 2023The allure of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals has hypnotized corporate America into offering ESG funds that score investments for prioritizing social goals. Companies that account for environmental, social, and governance goals in their decisions collectively held $8.4 trillion in US investment assets at the beginning of 2022. Leading investment firm BlackRock more than doubled its holdings to over $500 billion and other players are following its lead.
ESG investing is becoming a permanent fixture in the global corporate landscape, but not without backlash. Some entrepreneurs and politicians in the United States argue that prioritizing ESG investing at the expense of shareholder welfare will diminish returns for investors. Strong concerns about