African Science

The following is a letter I wrote to The Economist.

Dear Sir,

You argue in a recent article (Amaizing Grace Feb. 1) that African nations must develop their own science and technology in addition to establishing a free-market economy and a strong government if they wish to become successful states. However, with the rise of globalization and an increase in technological and scientific exchange, this condition of independent national research now seems obsolete if it even existed in the first place. Rather than investing heavily in labs, equipment, and human capital, the last of which requires solid institutions to begin with, African nations can instead focus on more pressing issues—like free markets and good governments—while benefiting from the technological advances of other countries through aid and trade. Independent national science and technology are products of, not preconditions to, strong nations.

Kyle Chan