‘Why Poor Countries Are Poor‘
The clues lie on a bumpy road leading to the world’s worst library.
Tim Harford

I take this to be more evidence that even the most macro-scale solutions for problems of infrastructure, government, and institutions in developing countries will ultimately hinge on local-scale stories like the Bafut Mafia.

What would happen if development research took the form of a massive oral history project? We send armies of people (local and otherwise) out to collect the histories of the local relationships, connections, and cultures that are the linchpins in developmental roadblocks. We compile the stories. Maybe we get a clearer picture of where to direct development work?

(Thanks to Alex for the link!)