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Sustain & Survive
by Venkatesh Govindarajan | @| April 1, 2020 10:25 am
VENKATESH GOVINDARAJAN
‘Nature does not draw boundaries as politicians do.’ The content on these 12 CDs cannot be summarised
meaningfully and effectively. Conciseness which is called for, in reviews like these, will tend to defeat the
purpose of doing justice to the labour of love being reviewed. I call this a ‘labour of love,’ for I assume and,
perhaps, rightly so, that Jeffrey D Sachs would consider the usefulness of his work to the world as a whole as
his greatest reward.
It is the pleasure and the keenness to ensure that sustainable development is well-
understood that this professor-economist-author-advisor has organised the content for this
audio-CD, and it is with the same higher purpose in mind, that Bob Souer has lent his
crystal-clear voice to communicate to millions the complex-yet-simple concept of measuring,
managing and taking responsibility for what we have done, are doing and must do in the
years to come, to ensure that economics happens in a socially-inclusive and environmentally-friendly manner
— with a higher purpose always being ascendant in the mind’s eye of decision-makers and individuals like
you and me. I will refrain from systematically moving from one CD to the next, but would advise listeners to do
so, and not miss the subtle links as you move from 1 to 12.
MESSENGER IS AS IMPORTANT
Souer’s crystal-clear voice cuts through choppy waters of complexity and keeps the listener on course,
navigating the jargon of wind and rain [to cull a metaphor] will consummate ease. Sachs combines his
erudition, experience and understanding to help you understand the ‘quo vadis of sustainable development’.
As you would hear somewhere in between the narration, we are living in an age of sustainable development
— this was preceded by the Internet age not long ago. The Internet and the ICT technologies, it has spawned,
are now humble servants to a new master — the overload, sustainable development.
LOOK BEYOND THE NUMBERS
Numbers and statistics, when shorn of their ability to mislead, are powerful aids for convincing and coercing
readers and listeners to do the right things. Quantification of whatever is measurable appeals to all of us, and
makes us inquisitive to dig deeper and understand more. The example of Shenzhen which the narrator
provides — a rapid rise from an unknown small town in China to an industrialised metropolis inhabited by 12-
million inhabitants, in a period of less than four decades, may prima facie create the impression of glorious,
mind-numbing possibilities; a feeling of ‘anything is possible.’ Yes, but as Sachs warns, though trade, finance,
social networks, migration and technology have changed the world to a great extent [from the steam engine in
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the mid-18th century to the marvels of ICT], they have also brought in their wake broken families,
environmental degradation, crime, depression and disease and inequality [between rich and poor] never seen
before.
All this is not hearsay, but strongly defended by reliable statistics. Sachs is of the firm belief that even though
some regions of the world may seem predestined by geography to endure hardships [proneness to floods,
droughts and other pestilences], and challenges [as faced by many land-locked countries in sub-Saharan
Africa], and history to being colonised and exploited in the past by imperialists, and enduring conflicts and civil
wars post-independence; history and geography [and, culture] need not be destiny to a ‘sustainabilist’ with a
realistic mindset and a belief in the ability of holistic solutions to challenges. We know that it has just been a
matter of time, thanks to ripple effects in a globalised world, where development may be delayed, but
certainly not denied.
Sachs alludes to the 10 planetary boundaries which mankind needs to respect, and refrain from exceeding
the safe operating limits, while focusing on economic growth/development [an increase in the GDP/ capita
indicator, along with a reduction in the Gini Index] and improvement in social welfare [development in health-
related and education-related indicators, for instance, and thereby a positive contribution to the Human
Development Index].
Business-As-Usual [BAU] approaches will put mankind on a slippery slope, going forward, making the
transition to the sustainable development [SD] approach a Hobson’s choice. He stresses on the
indispensability of good governance here — both in governments and private sector enterprises — to ensure
that the inevitable negatives do not overwhelm the desirable positives of strategies adopted. Good
governance [collaboration among public and private sector entities] is key in identifying the differences in the
challenges faced by rural and urban areas, surmount the problems associated with rapid urbanisation [67 per
cent of the world’s population will be residing in cities, by 2050] which stresses public services — something
which is being seen in Africa at the time of writing. This is also vital to tide over what is known as the ‘natural
resource curse’ — corrupt and indiscriminate use of the abundance of natural resources a country is endowed
with [Equatorial Guinea being a prime example].
TAKE-OFF WITHOUT PARACHUTE?
After a long period of almost stable global output, in the 17th and 18th
centuries, courtesy scientific developments [thanks to James Watt and his
steam engine, Galileo Galilei and Sir Isaac Newton inter alia], and the
Industrial Revolution in England, economic growth took off like nobody’s
business — generating a demand for the coal and iron ore reserves of the
world and spurring investments in railroad technologies. Talking here of coal,
we now know how what was not known then is known now as a scourge —
fossil fuels, resulting in global warming and climate change. Here, as Sachs
quotes Adam Smith who recognises the soul of capitalistic economic
systems, ‘We depend not on the benevolence of the butcher, brewer or
baker, but the fact that they do what they do, for their own benefit.’
Technological prowess and breakthroughs within economies [innovation-
based, chain-reaction mechanism] fuel what is known as ‘endogenous
economic growth,’ while availing of technology transfers [diffusion-based, or
adoption-based] enables countries to achieve what is called ‘catch-up growth.’
Endogenous growth in one country is often followed by catch-up growth in others which are influenced by it —
as was evidenced in the case of Japan taking the lead, and setting an example [inspiration and, most
importantly, support] for countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan etc. These days, being a node in global
supply chains, plays a key role in economic development in several parts of the world, while providing
employment to hitherto unemployed inhabitants. Since the Industrial Revolution, the two have been
happening around the world. From steam engines [18th century], to electricity [19th century] to automobiles
[early 20th century] to information technology and space sciences [second half of the 20th century], Sachs
identifies techno-epochs which were kicked off by the restless genius of inventive Homo sapiens. The next
great wave, Sachs says, must be one of sustainable technologies — fed and nurtured by the developments in
ICT technologies [which will continue to play a significant role in the smart and sustainable cities which are
springing up the world over].
Sachs is able to communicate with listeners effectively by providing anecdotes and analogies. He says that
his doctor wife inspired him to give up the traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach adopted by economists, in
favour of a case-by-case ‘differential’ diagnosis to tailor-make the solution to the unique problem. Economists
and ‘sustainabilists’ must be willing to go the extra mile, the long-winding paths to find and test holistic and
specialised solutions to problems well-understood. The analogy apart, Sachs has emphasised the important
role of good health and well-being in ensuring sustainable development and progress towards meeting the
SDGs [the sustainable development goals, unveiled by the UN in 2015].
ALL’S NOT WELL…
Whether it is disease burden in tropical Africa [the biggest challenge on date for sustainable development,
according to Sachs], or high total fertility rates [TFR] in the lesser-developed countries, sustainability
challenges are daunting indeed… insurmountable even without concerted efforts on the parts of decision-
makers. High TFRs in poor countries is a curse, while contrarily low TFRs in the highly-developed countries is
also a veritable scare. Here is why that is so —a declining fertility rate [TFR of below 2] also has its
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shortcomings with the responsibility of supporting burgeoning geriatric care falling on a shrinking share of the
working-age population.
Gender equality is honoured in few countries in the world — Scandinavia being the pioneers and trendsetters
in this regard. For sustainable development to be realisable, gender inequality needs to be eradicated from
the surface of the earth. Again, if the trendsetters have shown that gender equality has contributed to a rise in
social welfare and happiness [these countries top the HDI Index list], it is, of course, safe for the laggards to
follow their lead, without hesitation. Rwanda, which was once among the poorest in the world, has surged
ahead, thanks to the importance given to women in the government, society and the economy.
Here at least, one must not say, that correlation is not causation. It surely is. Though countries like the USA
may be registering impressive economic growth, child poverty rates in them are higher than what one would
intuitively expect. Taking a leaf from the Scandinavian welfare states [as Bernie Sanders wants to do],
balancing economic growth with a sound and robust taxation system to ensure that child poverty rates are
curtailed, is a sine qua non for sustainable development. Economic discrimination may happen not just on the
basis of gender, but also on the basis of race, sexual orientation, caste [this is specific to India] and religion;
leading to exclusion and consequent poverty. Here is where ‘duty ethics,’ ‘utilitarianism,’ ‘virtue ethics’ and
compassion preached and advocated by the likes of Jesus, Zarathustra, Confucius, the Buddha, Emmanuel
Kant, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jeremy Bentham, need to be imbibed by people in general and decision-makers
in particular. Redistribution of income holds the key to combat extreme poverty, be that by way of taxation
[human-rights activism, or socialism] or encouragement to be philanthropic [libertarianism].
The Green Revolution which enabled India to cultivate food for its fast-growing population post-
independence, needs to be replayed, this time with an up-gradation and value-addition, bearing in mind the
planetary boundaries which were not really a concern in the 1950s — nitrogen and phosphorus loading of
waters, ocean acidification, chemical [herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics in animal feeds] pollution, biodiversity
losses, global warming and climate change [and, the associated effects], freshwater depletion, demand for
renewable energy etc. While the rich countries of the world had pledged to contribute 1 per cent of their
respective GDPs to overseas developmental aid, only five countries — Sweden, Norway, Denmark,
Luxembourg, Netherlands — have lived up to their promise. Interestingly, these countries which
wholeheartedly contribute to development in the less-developed countries, also rank high on the Human
Development Index — indicating that, perhaps, an altruistic outlook adds to a sense of well-being [These
countries are also heavily invested in excellent neo-natal care and kindergarten facilities, focusing on holistic
development of children]. However, aid is just a temporary measure, as Sachs would want us to believe; it
cannot be a permanent need. He gives the example of China and South Korea, which started off as recipients
of overseas development assistance, used the assistance well, and now are among the leading donors to
countries which are following them slowly but steadily up the ladder.
In the year-2000, tuberculosis and malaria wrecked several parts of the world. This was why the Millennium
Development Goals [2000-2015] focused greatly on health and well-being [of mothers and children] and
targeted the eradication of epidemic diseases. However, what has been done is not enough. There are
children dying by the thousands, from preventable diseases, which are water-borne, or air-borne, in the less-
developed countries. Communicable diseases [Covid-19 tempest which is rampaging the world at the time of
writing] are often unstoppable in today’s globalised world, and they know no borders. However, it must be
acknowledged that the average life expectancy in both the developed and developing countries has increased
over time. Sachs explains lucidly how a rise in economic growth [and, thereby a rise in income] will result in a
rise in tax revenues and thereby expenditure on healthcare. This would mean there is a direct correlation
between economic growth and good health.
THERE IS MUCH MORE IN THERE
Well, you may perhaps have got to know the gist of everything on the 12 CDs. So, I would like to stop here,
and invite you to consider purchasing this set of audio-CDs, and listening to them, while you are seated in the
backseat of your car stuck in a traffic jam, or waiting at an airport, in transit. Or, when you just feel bored and
wish to know something about the state of affairs in the world today — what is, and what can and must be
done. Believe me, there is a lot in the dozen CDs you can share with your intellectual friends over a cup of
coffee and add value to the conversations.
The Age of Sustainable Development
[Audio: 12-CD Set. Run Time: 15 Hours]
Jeffrey D Sachs
Foreword: Ban Ki-Moon
Read by Bob Souer
Tantor Media Inc.,
Price: US$27.83
Filed under: Science Tags: featured
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