Political geography
Suits and ties demonstrate on opposite side of divide
IPN Opinion article
The Guardian writes about the Freedom to Trade demonstration in Hong Kong at the World Trade Organization meeting.
Protectionism won't save Africa from AIDS
IPN Opinion article
"In the long term, governments of African countries such as Ghana should broaden access to economic opportunities through institutional reforms. The economic well being of Ghanaians remains the bulwark against the spread of HIV/AIDS."
Empowerment to Reduce Poverty in Africa - Mbeki
IPN Opinion article
An article discussion Moeletsi Mbeki's paper, Perpetuating Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa
AIDS Drugs: Is patent the obstacle? [sic]
IPN Opinion article
Thompson Ayodele, director of the Institute of Public Policy Analysis in Lagos, Nigeria, argues that it is \"off target\" to blame patents for blocking access to medicines. He says \" The priority should be on increasing the economic well being of the people on the [African] continent\" by increasing trade and economic freedom -- not by increasing foreign aid.
Worries over Nigeria\'s fledgling democracy
IPN Opinion article
Nigerians in a matter of days will file out to cast their votes in series of elections into federal, state and local government elective posts. This will be the second election after the military relinquished power on May 29,1999 having held sway for over 15 years. Those were the years many Nigerians would not like to forget easily. Lots of people were killed, jailed in phantom coup plots, the press was repressed, flagrant abuse of human rights became rampart and lies and falsehood became the official policy. The institutions that make a society rich and prosperous were decimated, abused or destroyed.
Next step in realising Nigeria\'s immense potential
IPN Opinion article
After the votes are counted and the winners announced, they must take the next steps to help Nigeria achieve its immense potential. This means reducing corruption, promoting property rights and the rule of law, and encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship. Only this way can Nigerians lift themselves from poverty and violence.
Economic Freedom: The \"Haves\" and the \"Have Nots\"
IPN Opinion article
The Centre for Independent Studies had a recent visit from three leading liberals: Manuel Ayau, the President emeritus of the private Universidad Francisco Marroqu'n and an experienced business leader from Guatemala; Barun Mitra, the founding Director of the Liberty Institute, a free-market think tank in New Delhi; and James Shikwati, the founder and Director of Kenya\'s Inter-Region Economic Network in Nairobi. They spoke with Wolfgang Kasper, Senior Fellow at the Centre, about aid, poverty, the law and trade.
Big government encourages corruption
IPN Opinion article
Nigeria will better off if it could follow the worthy examples of Hong Kong and Singapore. Both countries were once in the league of corrupt nations but realizing its implications on economic growth and development, they quickly shift from being very corrupt to relatively clean and become good examples for other countries.
Nigeria will have to take a cue from them. Stemming corruption requires more than official statements. It requires stepping on big toes. It requires economic will. Political power to the people is not enough. Government relinquishing most of its economic power to the people must complement it. This is desirable. Unless this is timely done, Nigeria might have perilously embarked on a self-paved road to serfdom.
