***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   [Date]: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 20:29:54 +0600
   [From]: partha <partha@drik.net>
     [To]: comrades@onelist.com, drik@onelist.com
[Subject]: Matters of Fact

Globalisation: Developing countries have 80% of the world's population
but account for less than 20% of global GDP. In
East Asia per capita incomes today are at least seven times what they
were in 1960, but in sub-Saharan Africa and many
least developed countries, per capita incomes are lower than they were
in 1970. Foreign direct investment topped US $
400 billion in 1997, but 58% of it went to industrial countries, 37% to
developing countries and only 5% to the
transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe. Multinationals now
dwarf some governments in economic power. In
1997, Ford Motor Company's sales totaled $ 147 billion, while the 1997
GDP of South Africa was $ 129 billion and the
GDP of Malaysia was $98 billion. By 1998, the 10 top pesticides
producers controlled 8% of a $ 231 billion global
market. Industrial countries hold 97% of the patents worldwide.
Production losses resulting from the Eat Asian
financial crisis and its global repercussions are projected to reach $ 2
trillion over the period from 1998 to 2000.
The crisis has resulted in millions of people losing their jobs. The
assets of the 200 richest people are more than the
combined income of 41% of the world's people. A yearly contribution of
1% of their wealth or $ 8 billion could provide
universal access to primary education for all.
-------------------------------------------------------------------UNDP
Human Development Report'99


"Some of the tallest buildings in Bangladesh belong to three giant NGOs
BRAC, Grameen and Proshika, all dedicated to eradication of poverty."
--------------------------------------------------Shahidul Alam, Dhaka