As you know, economics is a branch of psychology which deals with people and money.
Analytical thinking refers to seeing problems on the “obvious” level and then digging deeper
to see how details and underlying causes might “change the picture.”
-AIDS is spread more often in a population where bacterial infections leave open sores in the
genital area through which the HIV virus may enter the body. If bacterial infections were
addressed first, the lives saved from AIDS via open sores would cost $3.50 per person whereas
direct AIDS treatments cost $300.00 per person.
-People who don’t expect to live long, like parts of Africa and gang infested streets in the US,
are not calculating their odds the same way as those who look forward to retiring on SSI. If
you don’t think you will live another ten years, you are less careful about catching VD. You
are “living for the moment.” Stick a microphone in the face of a gangsta in the ghetto and ask
them how long they think it will be before they are knifed or a victim of a “drive by shooting”.
Or just listen to rap music. This is why the AIDS in America is much worse among the blacks.
AIDS in Africa is over-counted by a factor of three because the measuring of pregnant women
is exaggerated in the taking of statistics and pregnant women are of an age where people are
having the most sex.
AIDS is a politically recognized disease which stimulates more attention from abroad and from
NGOs than other, less dramatic diseases and hunger. In other words, it has been noticed that
if Americans are told about AIDS, that more is done than if they are told about hunger.
Then huge quantities of condoms arrive in Africa. It gets our attention and raises our hackles
to hear that they are not receiving condoms. The human mind also reacts to new things more
than old things. AIDS is a “new thing”, associated with “prejudice against homosexuals”
which implies that it is a “politically correct” disease to get upset about. By comparison, plain
old hunger and herpes are “old things”. Another result is that leaders in Africa see that they
get more attention and more money if they talk about AIDS than if they talk about malaria or
TB. Therefore if someone has TB, it is “profitable” to “assume on purpose” that they have TB
because their immune system was compromised by AIDS. No direct test for AIDS has been
administered, however. In some countries where AIDS is prevalent, they count anyone who
has lost 10% of their weight in the last 6 months as having AIDS. It could be intestinal
parasites, which are common over there but don’t occur to most American minds.
Picture yourself as a government official in Africa.
“We have problems with intestinal parasites” Small response. Foreigners don’t know what
that is plus “why not just teach them sanitation?”
“We have infants going blind due to lack of Vitamin A.” Shipments of Golden Rice are blocked
by “well-intentioned liberals” opposed to “Frankenfoods.”
“We have TB due to TB.” Small response.
“We have TB due to AIDS.” Larger response.
“We have AIDS due to AIDS.” Largest response. Let’s just diagnose anything which makes a
person sick enough to lose 10 pounds in 6 months as AIDS. That way we boost our statistics
and more money is sent to us.
Three Things You Don't Know About Aids In Africa
www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/061105_mfe_December_06_Oster.html
A brilliant young economist's surprising ideas about HIV.By Emily OsterDecember 2006,
Volume 146, Issue 6
Analytical thinking refers to seeing problems on the “obvious” level and then digging deeper
to see how details and underlying causes might “change the picture.”
-AIDS is spread more often in a population where bacterial infections leave open sores in the
genital area through which the HIV virus may enter the body. If bacterial infections were
addressed first, the lives saved from AIDS via open sores would cost $3.50 per person whereas
direct AIDS treatments cost $300.00 per person.
-People who don’t expect to live long, like parts of Africa and gang infested streets in the US,
are not calculating their odds the same way as those who look forward to retiring on SSI. If
you don’t think you will live another ten years, you are less careful about catching VD. You
are “living for the moment.” Stick a microphone in the face of a gangsta in the ghetto and ask
them how long they think it will be before they are knifed or a victim of a “drive by shooting”.
Or just listen to rap music. This is why the AIDS in America is much worse among the blacks.
AIDS in Africa is over-counted by a factor of three because the measuring of pregnant women
is exaggerated in the taking of statistics and pregnant women are of an age where people are
having the most sex.
AIDS is a politically recognized disease which stimulates more attention from abroad and from
NGOs than other, less dramatic diseases and hunger. In other words, it has been noticed that
if Americans are told about AIDS, that more is done than if they are told about hunger.
Then huge quantities of condoms arrive in Africa. It gets our attention and raises our hackles
to hear that they are not receiving condoms. The human mind also reacts to new things more
than old things. AIDS is a “new thing”, associated with “prejudice against homosexuals”
which implies that it is a “politically correct” disease to get upset about. By comparison, plain
old hunger and herpes are “old things”. Another result is that leaders in Africa see that they
get more attention and more money if they talk about AIDS than if they talk about malaria or
TB. Therefore if someone has TB, it is “profitable” to “assume on purpose” that they have TB
because their immune system was compromised by AIDS. No direct test for AIDS has been
administered, however. In some countries where AIDS is prevalent, they count anyone who
has lost 10% of their weight in the last 6 months as having AIDS. It could be intestinal
parasites, which are common over there but don’t occur to most American minds.
Picture yourself as a government official in Africa.
“We have problems with intestinal parasites” Small response. Foreigners don’t know what
that is plus “why not just teach them sanitation?”
“We have infants going blind due to lack of Vitamin A.” Shipments of Golden Rice are blocked
by “well-intentioned liberals” opposed to “Frankenfoods.”
“We have TB due to TB.” Small response.
“We have TB due to AIDS.” Larger response.
“We have AIDS due to AIDS.” Largest response. Let’s just diagnose anything which makes a
person sick enough to lose 10 pounds in 6 months as AIDS. That way we boost our statistics
and more money is sent to us.
Three Things You Don't Know About Aids In Africa
www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/061105_mfe_December_06_Oster.html
A brilliant young economist's surprising ideas about HIV.By Emily OsterDecember 2006,
Volume 146, Issue 6
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