Global economic inequality exists, and remedies are complex, even overwhelming. There is no doubt that all countries were not dealt an equal hand for economic success. Some struggle due to external factors such as unfortunate geography, misfortunes of climate, lack of resources, and many countries lack infrastructure to support means of production and transport commodities. Conversely, internal forces plague economic development in countries with internal ethnic or religious strife, overbearing or repressive political regimes, power and wealth concentrated in the hands of a few while most live in poverty.
Citizens of more fortunate or prosperous nations feel compelled, either through genuine compassion and altruism or self-serving reasons such as acquiring status, to exercise their social responsibility and assist countries and regions who have failed to prosper for any of these reasons At times, their assistance is often directed at the wrong sources, and is too little, too late. But that does not mean they should not use best efforts, given whatever resources they have, and keep trying.
True world economic parity is not the goal of concerted aid efforts. There is embodied in some nations and their own policies a move toward economic equality through redistribution of assets, either by nationalism, socialism, or extensive aid and development programs. The underling dichotomy is in the approach of this distribution: is it in the form of rendering aid, or of economic stimulus? Sending unrenewable aid such as money, food, and expendable supplies alone, can be seen as a quick fix. The internal or external forces that caused the disparity will not be alleviated by treating their symptoms.
Economic stimulus, on the other hand, must be promoted by international organizations and developed nations that will enable developing countries to establish their own infrastructures and means of production to allow them to ascend in a global economic context. Technology can be easily introduced, even to remote areas, and its dividends are enormous. The International Monetary Fund can manipulate currency rates to some extent and provide developmental capital, as can nations and private investors, if prompted to do so. As little as an appealing acronym (BRICS) applied in the early 2000’s to Brazil, Russia, India, China and later South Africa actually did spur interest and investment in otherwise unrelated countries. These countries even embraced their connection and opened their own bank for development loans and economic crisis counterbalance. Investment and industrial opportunities help nations create an environment of economic sustainability, where financial burdens can be met, and growth achieved, independent of outside assistance.
For an American teenager, the steps available to remedy global wealth disparities are limited. Informing others of the problem is a start. Proactive steps, however, if addressed through a localized context, may enable development of projects with lasting impact toward creating an environment of economic sustainability. For example, school or church sponsored drives to send agricultural or technological equipment that can enhance production over time to developing regions are feasible projects for young people. Even organizing an effort to sponsor and send farm animals such as goats to agrarian nations enable sustained returns. As simplistic as it seems, providing goats to farmers in depressed areas has the potential for lasting return. Goats are easy to raise and produce milk, dairy products, as well as other goats. These sorts of collections can be managed by young people with limited resources, even supported by local businesses and clubs, and can afford citizens of developing regions with return-producing aid.
Overall, wealthy nations are likely to remain wealthy due to inherent advantages and advancements. Social responsibility dictates that we use what capabilities we have to empower and invest in industry and agriculture that promotes a move toward economic balance and sustainability in developing nations. Even small scale efforts pay off and are worth the minimal investment to produce lasting returns in distant parts of the world.
