Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

What if he's right?

In his book, John Perkins talks about the military industrial complex's impact on Third World countries.

"Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. They funnel money from the World Bank, USAID,...into the pockets of a few wealthy individuals who control the planet's natural resources."

Wow. If this beginning to the Preface has any basis in truth, the Obama Administration has issues that transcend those currently being discussed in the media.

In addition to considering the traditional networks in determining ways to allocate government resources in a way that optimizes human welfare, he has to look behind the curtain and see if the resources are really going to appropriate places.

Are the, "Few wealthy individuals who control the planet's natural resources" also receiving government bailouts...?

Do they run the banks, healthcare organizations, infrastructure contractors, and other organizations receiving government money?

Does it matter?

We know that the government needs new analytical tools to determine whether government programs accomplish their goals.

Using actuarial, complexity science, data mining and visualization, and other tools which are available but underutilized, the Administration can be sure its resources will be more likely to have the intended effect.

Can we build analytical tools which will allow us to be sure we are getting the most welfare impact possible from our programs? Can we predict Net Economic Welfare and Gross National Product scenarios which will provide for a reasonable standard of life for future generations?

Yes we can.

Lee