The Power of the Poor: Hernando de Soto and the power of property and trade rights to reduce poverty
Peruvian-born economist Hernando de Soto wrote a series of book on his own experience of reducing poverty by giving property rights to the poor.
In this first book "The Mystery of Capital" De Soto shows how the poor are made "vulnerable" (to use the politically-correct lexicon used instead of "poor" to indicate something worse: the lack of self-sufficiency) because they are deprived of their property rights, and therefore, of their ability to conduct legitimate and stable business.
The suicide of a2002 humble grocer when his cart was appropriated by the Cairo police fir bit having "a license" to sell vegetables, started the regional insurrection called "the Arab spring" and underscored the vital urge for property rights among the poor.
De Soto explains (and demonstrates) in other of his key books, aptly titled "The other Path" (in Spanish a play in words with "el otro Sendero" as an alternative to the terrorist group Sendero Luminoso or Shining Path) that making easier and cheaper for the poor to establish independent business and trade, not only reduces poverty, but creates self-sufficiency and the self-respect and dignity that comes with that.
De Soto and his foundation conducted experiences around the world confirming the thesis and methods of his books.
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