(detail) "IF ALL THE WORLD'S RICH VANISHED, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE POOR? IF ALL THE WORLD'S POOR VANISHED, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE RICH, YOU?" Paraphrase, Manfred Max-Neef, "Barefoot Economics." (see Lib Tab)

nd "IF ALL THE WORLD'S RICH VANISHED, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE POOR?  IF ALL THE WORLD'S POOR VANISHED, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE RICH, YOU?"  Paraphrase, Manfred Max-Neef, "Barefoot Economics." (see Lib Tab)

The idea was presented in Manfred Max-Neef's "Barefoot Economics." Someone in his meeting said, 'Our countries would do much better if the 'indians' in our countries just vanished. He posed the question to a group of economists, as I recall, in South America - 'What would happen to the rich in south america if all the poor suddenly vanished?' It was immediately vanished, that the economy, the life-style of the rich would instantly collapse. He then asked, 'What would happen to the poor if the rich in south america instantly vanished?' It was instantly recognized that the life of the poor would immediately improve. The audience found this shocking and disturbing, and obvious, upon reflection.