Comment Re:Birth Control (Score 1) 477
At first thought, i would also say that birth control and education are key. They are indeed important. But Africa is not poor in resources — it's poor in property rights and their enforcement. People don't invest in infrastructure over there because of poor property rights. Consider a farmer who builds irrigation for his field. When some guerrillas run through town or another dictator ascends to power, they may take his hard invesment in his land from him.
Another thing is that people are resources: they can improve the land and produce goods. So birth control, in the current state of affairs, would help lots. But the most benefit would come from strong property rights in poor areas so people can invest in infrastructure and their land without fear of losing it through force.