logo
episode-header-image
May 2022
29m 15s

Why do some countries remain poor?

Financial Times
About this episode

Why do some countries stay poor while others find a rapid path towards growth and development? Economist Stefan Dercon thinks it’s all about the willingness of those in power to prioritise development over protecting their own interests. He explains how he came to this view in conversation with the FT’s Africa editor, David Pilling.

Clips: IMF, Africa News


More on this topic:  

Gambling on Development, by Stefan Dercon

The Rachman Review: the rising toll of famine and conflict

Ethiopia is a tragedy for the whole of Africa


Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.


Presented by David Pilling. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 10
Putin steps up summer offensive against Ukraine
Russia’s attacks on Ukraine are escalating, both on the front lines and across urban centres. Ben Hall, the FT’s Europe editor, talks to military analyst Franz-Stefan Gady about Ukraine’s battle to hold onto territory until a ceasefire can be agreed. Clips: Channel 4; ABCFree lin ... Show More
19m 23s
Jul 3
Is the US heading for a debt crisis?
Gideon talks to Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund and author of a new book: How Countries Go Broke. They discuss the size of the US debt and what history tells us about identifying warning signs. Clip: CBSFree links to read more on this ... Show More
24m 3s
Jun 12
Nato’s moment of truth
Gideon talks to Oana Lungescu, Nato's former and longest-serving spokesperson, about what to expect from this month’s summit and what's at stake? Can Europe convince the Trump administration that Russia is a risk they need to take seriously, and will an agreement to increase defe ... Show More
29m 17s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
Africa’s green superpower
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/eb1b2bc3-1edf-444b-ac44-8e3a79cd8887 Private equity firms are offering the highest premiums for listed companies in more than two decades, and the Facebook whistleblower told Congress on Tuesday the company rep ... Show More
9m 29s
Feb 2024
The Intelligence: Vietnam’s golden opportunity
The populous South-East Asian country is uniquely well-positioned to benefit from the deepening rift between America and China, so what’s stopping it? How a breakaway party on Germany’s far left is appealing to voters in the east (08:13). And, why VAR is frustrating football fans ... Show More
23m 5s
Jul 2023
The Congo river conservation debate
Investors sold stocks and bonds across the world on Thursday as US borrowing costs touched a 16-year high, US Treasury secretary Janet Yellen is in China, and Meta said more than 30mn people had signed up to its long-awaited competitor to Twitter. Plus, the FT’s Africa editor Dav ... Show More
10m 1s
Nov 2022
COP27: South Africa’s tricky shift from coal
UK prime minister Rishi Sunak says Britain and France are in the ‘final stage’ of reaching a deal over migrant crossings, and cyber experts are worried about misinformation on Twitter during the US midterms elections. Plus, the FT’s David Pilling explains why, despite $8.5bn, Sou ... Show More
8m 52s
Feb 2024
The Intelligence: Vietnam’s golden opportunity
The populous South-East Asian country is uniquely well-positioned to benefit from the deepening rift between America and China, so what’s stopping it? How a breakaway party on Germany’s far left is appealing to voters in the east (08:13). And, why VAR is frustrating football fans ... Show More
23m 5s
Jun 2023
Why This Economist Wants to Give Every Poor Child $50,000
“Wealth is the paramount indicator of economic prosperity and well-being,” says the economist Darrick Hamilton. He’s right. Policy analysis tends to focus on income, but it is wealth that often determines whether we can send our kids to college, pay for an illness, quit a job, st ... Show More
52m 54s
Feb 2024
The Intelligence: Horn under a bad sign
The birth rate of unicorns—firms with a valuation north of $1bn—has plummeted, and prior investors in them are eyeing what exits exist. We ask why the species is endangered. The struggle to finance and build homes is contributing to a profound housing crisis in sub-Saharan Africa ... Show More
25m 7s
Mar 2024
The Intelligence: Fed reckoning
America’s central bank left rates untouched, to widespread market delight. Why is this economic cycle confounding expectations so much, and how to bring it to a gentle end? We look at the modern fortunes of Vodafone, a once-mighty telecoms firm that is slimming down to get health ... Show More
21m 28s
Jul 2023
Protecting elephants in the Congo River Basin
The US and Germany are among the western allies falling behind in delivering promised heavy weapons to Ukraine, and big asset managers are flocking to Latin American bonds and currencies. Plus, the FT’s Africa editor David Pilling introduces us to some conservationists working to ... Show More
10m 8s
Apr 2024
The Intelligence: The world’s biggest humanitarian crisis
Ravaged by a civil war, Sudan could see a nationwide famine by August. With humanitarian aid being blocked on both sides, it is increasingly difficult to get supplies to those who need them the most. How to protect an endangered language (09:01). And, why domestic cats have becom ... Show More
18m 44s