By Michel VATÉ, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute, Emeritus Professor at the University of Lyon (IEP) | Note N°1, 4th edition

Against poverty, we have not yet tried everything... The academic world often gives an overview of the history of economic development theories: concept of vulnerability plays no explanatory role regards to development strategies; we find no trace of the idea, advocated by Condorcet, “to struggle the unstable nature of inequality and poverty in opposing the chance to itself1". Until proved otherwise, the growth of rich countries, as we know it today, binds to this principle. It was implemented both in the business world and in the development of social protection systems. Certainly, the (...)

By Michel VATÉ, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute, Emeritus Professor at the University of Lyon (IEP) | For the African Finance Forum

The way out of a crisis is always easier and faster provided there is a post-crisis scenario plan. In the current global crisis, Africa has a role to play: The continent has immediate and distant future emerging countries which will help boost global economic growth. But it also has a serious challenge: it is vulnerable as most of its producers are, and faced with too many risks against which they are helpless. Vulnerability or growth? It will be one or the other. For growth to prevail, Africa needs to be reinsured.  

A milestone has been achieved. While the spread of (...)

A new meeting organized by the Thomas More Institute on Monday, December 5, 2011, 8:30-10:30am, Paris. Speakers: Luc GUYAU, Jean-Michel SEVERINO and Michel VATÉ.

The agenda of the G20 Summit in Cannes, shattered by the urgency of the debt crisis in Europe, did not allow development issues to be discussed at a level where they should have been. Economic and social development, food crisis, climate change, health, education and training: those challenges represent yet other international emergencies...

In a context of high pressure on the public finances of the traditional donor countries, who will consequently influence the financing of the Official Development Assistance (ODA)? Where and how will we meet these enormous needs?

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By Michel VATÉ, Emeritus professor at Lyon University (IEP) and Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute and Luc GUYAU, Independent Chairman of the Council of FAO. Article published in La Tribune, on November 4th, 2011. Available in French.

Le Sommet du G20 qui va s'ouvrir à Cannes a du pain sur la planche. D'abord pour traiter des pressantes questions financières mondiales et apporter son soutien au plan de sauvetage de l'euro ; mais aussi pour tenir les promesses faites en 2008 aux pays pauvres. Il ne faudrait pas qu'une urgence en chasse une autre. S'attaquer enfin, et avec un nouveau regard, aux défis du développement et de la pauvreté, c'est aussi contribuer à l'ordre du monde.

Mais tenter de réduire la (...)

On the eve of the opening of the G20 summit in Cannes (France), as the European debt crisis and the responses of the Brussels summit on October, 26th keeps undermining the international community. Other issues, however, have the same urgency; development funding and the support to poor countries are among the major issues. With a scarcity of ODA (Official Development Assistance) background, discussions on innovative financing became more frequent. France and other European countries, support the creation of a tax on financial transactions. Is it feasible? Other solutions are nevertheless possible. The new Thomas More Institute's Benchmarking Note, available in French, puts to the test twelve innovative financing mechanisms.