Imbalance and Inequality: The developing world and the MDGs
               (by David Lam)

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of 8 lofty goals set by the United Nations with a deadline to be completed by the year 2015. To the commoner, these goals would be more appropriately named as dreams. However, with the advances of technology, medicine, and the impact of globalization, it seems many nations and organizations sincerely want to improve the quality of life for all of humanity. The problem is not the desire, for the hope and want has always existed. The most important aspect is the ability to act, and to act effectively in the most efficient way.

Within the MDGs, there are 18 specific targets and 48 indicators with specific time and quantity requirements to meet. The cost is a daring $40-$70 billion US each year. The likelihood of success appears to diminish with each additional year.

In this article, the details and descriptions of the MDGs will not be discussed. Instead, this piece will focus on the standpoint of these MDGs from the view of developing countries. These countries are the ones who are getting the help to save their citizens; it is their world which will receive the greatest boost and benefit mankind has ever seen in the history of civilization.

In the real world, the implementation of the MDGs is more than a direct transfer of funds, or a feel-good Disney story. The politics and economics behind the goals are much more complicated. At the 11th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, countries expressed concern over the developed nations' ability to support and subsidize the production and export of commodities. To developing nations who are unable to finance this, their trade is significantly disadvantaged. As well, developing countries called for the elimination of coercive economic and trade measures and/or sanctions which are limiting their capabilities to reach the MDGs.

To reach the MDGs requires an incredibly enormous amount of money and policy-making on the part of both donors and the developing nations. Another problem from some developing nations is the destructive impact of foreign occupation on efforts to restore the environment and provide food, shelter, and other essential resources for its people.

African countries are particularly at risk of missing the targets. Income inequality, often overlooked, is an increasing problem in Latin America and Africa. Corruption, sometimes even on a national level, prevents the primary help from reaching isolated communities and desperate adults and children.

In South America, there is an uneven balance in the race to meet the goals. In a study, economist Leonardo Gasparini says that sustained growth is a fundamental ingredient, but it must be accompanied by other basic elements. To meet the poverty elimination MDG by 2015, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay have to grow in productivity at near-impossible rates. However, the growth rate can be reduced if there was greater income equality. For example, with no changes in inequality, Argentina must grow 9.5% annually until 2015. Argentina has grown at that rate lately, but that is only because it is coming from a very low economic level and recovering from a recent recession.

Another challenge is that the poverty reduction targets for countries may be unfair. Argentina's targets are based on 1990, during which it was suffering from a deep economic crisis. Instead, the targets should be based on 1992, a year of relative stability, so that the growth target would not have to be so impossible to reach.

Other countries, such as Uruguay, are stuck in the middle because of the presence of both positive and negative statistics at the same time, making targets difficult to set and be attained. Its economy has been a roller coaster since 1989, its basis year, creating problems for the correct specific quantity in the targets. Furthermore, less than 1% of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, an incredible level relative to developing nations. With this progress, the UN has set the standards higher for Uruguay. However, to meet the MDGs, Uruguay must reduce its poverty levels drastically. Fortunately, its leftist Broad Front government with Socialist President Tabaré Vázquez has committed to the task with a national plan to address the "social emergency".

For other developing nations, the efforts to set targets have proven to be difficult as well. Paraguay lacks reliable statistics from a lack of national surveys in the 1990s. 2002 was therefore used as the basis for the MDGs. Studies recommend that income equality, and an increased number of years of education will help to meet the targets for the 46% of the population that is defined as poor.

On the other end of the spectrum, Chile has almost reached the goals already. Poverty has fallen 20% from 1990 to 2003 and Chile is the only country in the region to have cut the extreme poverty rate in half since 1990. The positive economic growth is attributed as a big cause of its success. Unfortunately, not all countries can experience this growth in trade and the benefits of exports and market activity. However, experts say that the rise in Chile's GDP is not the only reason for success. Chile has increased social spending and the "Chile Solidario" or Chile Solidarity Plan, has had a significant impact on those affected by extreme poverty.

Chile enjoyed improvement following the defeat of its 1973-1990 dictatorship. The government has the pivotal role in ensuring whether or not the MDGs are met. Chile has experienced economic, political, and social reforms, paving the way for increased growth and economic productivity.

In Asia, the MDGs are being met with ambition, but the implementation has proven to be difficult. The toughest challenges are the health-related goals, especially in the regions of Europe and Central Asia. There are low levels of life expectancy, a result of high adult mortality. The infant and child mortality rates are actually relatively low. The dilemma is to either attempt to satisfy MDG 4 and 5, child mortality and maternal health, or to reduce the adult mortality rates, through reducing cardiovascular disease and other external causes of death. Hence, one of the most common measures of health, life expectancy at birth, may not be the most accurate depiction of Asian society. Studies show that reducing adult mortality would give an average gain of 7.75 years in life expectancy. Reaching the MDG targets instead, however, would only produce about a one year gain.

While the Millennium Development Goals are encompassing and were written with good intentions, they cannot be suitably applied to every developing nation. In this case, the health-related MDGs are not appropriate for Eastern European or Central Asian countries. Indicators of adult health must be taken into consideration.

The set of eight Goals is without a doubt, the largest project collectively undertaken by a majority of the developed and developing countries. The efforts to improve the standards of life and measures of health and education are bold and impressive. With ten years left, governments, organizations, charities, and residents must strive to defeat poverty and reach the goals. The MDGs are most definitely a cause to live for.

Sources

"G77, China vow to implement MDGs". China Daily. 13 Jun. 2004. 12 Jul. 2005. <http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/13/content_338998.htm>.

"MDGs in Europe and Central Asia." London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London. 17 Feb. 2005. 10 Jul. 2005. <http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/ecohost/projects/mdg-europe-asia.htm>.

"Millennium Campaign." United Nations. 2 Jul. 2005. <http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/site>.

Valente, Marcela. "Uneven Race Against Poverty." Inter Press Service News Agency. 6 Apr. 2005. 12 Jul. 2005. <http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/interna.asp?idnews=28190>.

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