"Economic growth is like a wild horseóit needs to be trained to serve the real interests of society. If the horse misbehaves in some societies, leading to deprivation of many human lives, then the fault is not that of the horse but the skill of the rider. Economic growth is essential in poor societiesóbut even more important is its structure and distribution. While policy makers must accept the logic of the marketplace, they must also turn around and make markets work more efficiently in the interest of all people. It is people friendly markets that are needed."

While 13 million people are faced with death and starvation, the European Union is set to provide close to 130 million Euros to check the situation. Will the food aid improve the situation? In the short term it may. But the political disease that afflicts African countries will remain to plunge the populations in another catastrophe. In Swaziland, for example, the government purchased an executive jet for the King worth 28 million pounds. In Zimbabwe the government purchased state of the art Mercedes limousines for the ruling elites. The key concerns over the rule of law and good governance will be left unaffected.

This sort of poverty is miraculous. Ghastly, but miraculous, and perhaps the most extraordinary accomplishment of modern governments. Poor countries are the world\'s true \"economic miracles\", not post-war Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Botswana or Mauritius. Prosperity in such countries is no \"miracle\". It is the natural outcome of relative economic freedom. If there are \"economic miracles\", they are backward countries, where governments have succeeded in preventing prosperity. India is a nation of manifestly energetic and enterprising people. If left alone, they would prosper. This was clearly demonstrated when India implemented modest pro-market reforms and the country was rewarded with one of the world\'s highest growth rates.

Una vez m·s nos vemos los argentinos enfrentados al mismo juego, el de las relaciones entre el gobierno y el Fondo Monetario Internacional. Ese juego siempre se plantea oficialmente as': el gobierno -cuyo objetivo es perseguir el bien com˙n de la poblaciÛn- se enfrenta y negocia tratando de obtener las mejores condiciones para que el pueblo no sufra y, por el otro lado, los representantes del FMI tratan de encauzar al pa's por el buen rumbo econÛmico, promoviendo reformas que resolver'an los graves problemas planteados en la solicitud de ayuda al organismo internacional.