Talk:Ethiopia plans to expand country's Internet access

Original reporting notes
On April 7, 2005, I interviewed Prof. Giovani Peri about this topic. Here is my transcription of my longhand notes. Next time I'll use a voice recorder:


 * "IT is needed for growth, but you need human capital to run it."


 * "If it comes from below..."


 * "Big government is setting incentives and rewards, drive by profits"


 * Paraphrase: The big government should be creating incentives and rewards but leave the development of such programs to the private sector driven by profits.


 * "If government had laws to respect property"


 * "We don't know if Ethiopia is the right place for IT, if that's its comparative advantage."


 * "Growth miracles [countries which experience economic growth at a very high pace] didn't grow like that -- get local communities to grow."


 * "[African governments] in the past tried to introduce airports ... in the middle of desolation... but people need to know that the environment is right for business."


 * "There are two measures that could be done before this: a good educational system, and a scientific community involved in the process."


 * "Human capital and knowledge are important, but Ethiopia lacks lots more."


 * "Display of good will of the government but possibly will end up a big waste of money."


 * Paraphrase: The government may only want the flashy announcement or program -- they've not done much more in the past.

-- IlyaHaykinson 22:27, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)