单选题
What's the world's greatest moral challenge, as judged by
its capacity to inflict human tragedy? It is not, I think, global warming, whose
effects—if they become as grim as predicted—will occur over many years and
provide societies time to adapt. A case can be made for preventing nuclear
proliferation, which threatens untold deaths and a collapse of the world
economy. But the most urgent present moral challenge, I submit, is the most
obvious: global poverty. The solution to being poor is getting
rich. It's economic growth. We know this. The mystery is why all societies have
not adopted the obvious remedies. Just recently, the 21-member Commission on
Growth and Development examined the puzzle. Since 1950, the panel found, 13
economies have grown at an average annual rate of 7 percent for at least 25
years. The panel identified five common elements of success:
Openness to global trade and, usually, an eagerness to attract foreign
investment; political stability and "capable" governments "committed" to
economic growth; high rates of saving and investment, usually at least 25
percent of national income; economic stability, keeping government budgets and
inflation under control and avoiding a broad collapse in production; a
willingness to "let markets allocate resources," meaning that governments didn't
try to run industry. Of course, qualifications abound, still,
broad lessons are clear. Globalization works. Countries don't get rich by
staying isolated. Those that embrace trade and foreign investment acquire
know-how and technologies, can buy advanced products abroad, and are forced to
improve their competitiveness. The transmission of new ideas and products is
faster than ever. There is a role for foreign aid, technical
assistance and charity in relieving global poverty. But it is a small role. It
can improve health, alleviate suffering from natural disasters or wars, and
provide some types of skills. But it cannot single: handedly stimulate the
policies and habits that foster self-sustaining growth. Japan and China have
grown rapidly not because they received foreign aid but because they pursued
pro-growth policies and embraced pro-growth values. The hard
question is why all societies haven't adopted them. One reason is politics; some
regimes are more interested in preserving their power and privileges than in
promoting growth. But the larger answer, I think, is culture, as Lawrence
Harrison of Tufts University argues. Traditional values, social systems or
religious views are often hostile to risk-taking, wealth accumulation and
economic growth. In his latest book, Harrison contends that politics can alter
culture, hut it isn't easy. Globalization has moral as well as
economic and political dimensions. The United States and other wealthy countries
are experiencing an anti-globalization backlash. Americans and others are
entitled to defend themselves from economic harm, but many of the allegations
against globalization are wildly exaggerated. By making globalization an
all-purpose scapegoat for economic complaints, many "progressives" are actually
undermining the most powerful force for eradicating global poverty.
单选题
Which of the following will bring the greatest tragedy to mankind?