Based on your stellar performance
in International Studies 200 you have been appointed Minister of Finance for
Southern Franconia. One day you find yourself attending a conference in
Northern Franconia and after a long day listening to diatribes about free
markets from the intellectual snobs from the University of Chiconia…those
classical liberal twits…you could really use a beer. You w
...[Show More]
Based on your stellar performance
in International Studies 200 you have been appointed Minister of Finance for
Southern Franconia. One day you find yourself attending a conference in
Northern Franconia and after a long day listening to diatribes about free
markets from the intellectual snobs from the University of Chiconia…those
classical liberal twits…you could really use a beer. You wander down to the
Invisible Mug Pub for some relief. After all, unlike modern Northern Franconia,
Southern Franconia has a resource poor non-industrialized economy. You begin to
question how you’ll ever catch up. Those classical liberals don’t
understand that upper Northern Franconia had industrialization handed to them
on a platter with their rich agricultural lands, easy to mine coal and
kilometers of easily navigated water ways. Southern Franconia has only a large,
unskilled (and unruly), agrarian labor force.
After you’ve had your first two
pints, you begin to forget about the unfortunate circumstances of Southern Franconia.
Unfortunately, your intoxicated sense of calm is interrupted by an argument
that has erupted between Harvard Professors Rostow and Gerschenkron (who
obviously can’t handle their drink).
“Walt! How many times do I have
to tell you, your analysis is flawed by your lack of understanding of history
and your failure to draw anything other than linear graphs? Steps indeed!
You’re just like Marx!”
“Are you mad Alexander? Don’t you
understand that in order to industrialize, you must allow the market to
efficiently allocate scarce resources?”
In spite of all the excitement,
Walt begins to slump in his chair and gently nods off to sleep. It occurs
to you that Alexander might actually have some insight to apply to your
troubles in Southern Franconia. You approach him for a conversation.
Your assignment:
Write a memo to Otto von Francis,
the leader of Southern Franconia, to explain what you have learned from
Alexander and how his ideas might help Southern Franconia industrialize.
Requirements:
Three double-spaced, typewritten pages
(10-12 point font, 1” margins)
Be sure to include quotes
from Economic Backwardness in Historical Perspective to
support your memo recommendations
[Show Less]