Good Intentions and Bad Economics Good Intentions and Bad Economics of Philanthrotourism – 4 questions of Philanthrotourism – 4 questions about our place in developmentabout our place in development

Thomas SoerensThomas Soerens

tsoerens@uark.edutsoerens@uark.edu

Questions

Is it worth the money?Is it worth the money? What are the effects on the local What are the effects on the local

economy?economy? What does it change?What does it change? Are you a seeker or a planner?Are you a seeker or a planner?

Is it worth the money? Wage in Belize: $10 - $30 per dayWage in Belize: $10 - $30 per day• $3700/$10 = 370 days = 37 guys for 10 days.$3700/$10 = 370 days = 37 guys for 10 days.

How do we justify?How do we justify?• Your educationYour education• Motivational speakerMotivational speaker

PhilanthrotourismPhilanthrotourism• http://www.larknews.com/november_2005/http://www.larknews.com/november_2005/• http://www.philanthrotourism.com/http://www.philanthrotourism.com/

What are the effects on the local economy?

http://1millionshirts.org/http://1millionshirts.org/• Do they want our used junk?Do they want our used junk?• Are t-shirts a priority need?Are t-shirts a priority need?• How much do they cost to ship?How much do they cost to ship?

Donated foodDonated food• Put local farmers out of business?Put local farmers out of business?• National economies built on foreign aidNational economies built on foreign aid

Importing stuff versus tariffs, etc.Importing stuff versus tariffs, etc.• Micro: try to use local economyMicro: try to use local economy• Macro: India in 80s versus todayMacro: India in 80s versus today

What does it change?

Planner vs Seeker PlannerPlanner• Does Foreign aid work?Does Foreign aid work?– http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?

id=1957412id=1957412

SeekerSeeker• Probability ExerciseProbability Exercise

– Team 1: committee makes guessTeam 1: committee makes guess– Team 2: each one takes a guessTeam 2: each one takes a guess