That graph up there may look boring, but it's a big deal. It shows how the economies of Jamaica and Barbados — two countries with very similar histories — have grown far apart in the last several decades.
That difference in GDP shows up in all sorts of ways, Planet Money's Alex Blumberg found on a recent trip to both countries. Today, we get the first installment: What schools look like in each country. A principal in Jamaica keeps her school running with help from neighborhood volunteers, a donation from a Jamaican pop star and some funding from a U.S. aid program. A principal at a similar school in Barbados says government funding does a pretty good job of meeting the school's needs.
Alex will have more on the story of Jamaica and Barbados in future podcasts. If you can't wait that long, check out this paper by Peter Blair Henry, who was born in Jamaica and who now heads NYU's business school.
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2010/03/podcast_why_gdp_matters_for_ki.html?t=1542726891647?t=1542726891647
That difference in GDP shows up in all sorts of ways, Planet Money's Alex Blumberg found on a recent trip to both countries. Today, we get the first installment: What schools look like in each country. A principal in Jamaica keeps her school running with help from neighborhood volunteers, a donation from a Jamaican pop star and some funding from a U.S. aid program. A principal at a similar school in Barbados says government funding does a pretty good job of meeting the school's needs.
Alex will have more on the story of Jamaica and Barbados in future podcasts. If you can't wait that long, check out this paper by Peter Blair Henry, who was born in Jamaica and who now heads NYU's business school.
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2010/03/podcast_why_gdp_matters_for_ki.html?t=1542726891647?t=1542726891647
Mr. James’s Notes:
8851 USD gap – Barbados vs. Jamaica
Amount of money spent divided by number of people
Jamaica: 5571
Barbados: 14422
US: 45,230
Barbados -- the “richer country”
Planet Money’s Question: Why are poor countries poor, why are rich countries rich?
Are B students trapped in poverty in Jamaica, whereas in Barbados middle kids can still have opportunities.
BIG QUESTION: Can we do a similar comparative analysis of Poland and Ukraine? How might we design such an analysis?
8851 USD gap – Barbados vs. Jamaica
Amount of money spent divided by number of people
Jamaica: 5571
Barbados: 14422
US: 45,230
- GDP up = richer people, richer govt = better education, roads
- Human face on the gap by comparing educational system: elementary schools visited
- Jamaica (see map below) -- the “poorer country”
- Almond Town near Kingston ES: 3 concrete cinder block building, concrete playground, nicely painted, inner city poor neighborhood, gang violence
- Principal wants the school to be a safe haven for kids, but must fund things in alternative ways; whiteboards provided by the teacher himself – built it himself; principal got local sponsors, USAID money, volunteers; all 6th graders take the competency test – if they do badly, they end up in an upgraded school (‘bad school’) – odds against these kids – low achievers, behavioral problems, ‘almost made-its’ also give up, drop out, join non-official economy in drugs
- Need additional 150 schools for the ‘almost made it’ kids. The test is a rationing test – not a skills test – generally speaking the wealthier kids do better, so they get better chances in the better schools
- If more money? Buy instruments; pay additional reading teacher for each classroom
Barbados -- the “richer country”
- ES in Bridgetown; working class, lower middle school; crime is a problem; school has more resources; more technology; extracurriculars: art, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, computer, public speaking
- Wished she had? More stuff for kids: beakers, educational games for ES; overall, well-funded
- Jamaican B-students – are they condemned to poverty?
- Barbados B-students – are they better off?
- To benefit from FDI (foreign direct investment), must have transfer from up to down – has to do with education
Planet Money’s Question: Why are poor countries poor, why are rich countries rich?
Are B students trapped in poverty in Jamaica, whereas in Barbados middle kids can still have opportunities.
BIG QUESTION: Can we do a similar comparative analysis of Poland and Ukraine? How might we design such an analysis?
Assignment:
Listen to the podcast before answering the questions
Click to listen to the podcast
Listen to the podcast before answering the questions
Click to listen to the podcast
- Which country is wealthier, Jamaica or Barbados? By how much in GDP per capita?
- What are the material differences between schools in Jamaica and Barbados?
- What is the main point of the podcast? [Hint: why does GDP matter for school kids?]
- This podcast is from 2010. Look up the figures for 2017 (List of Countries by GDP/capita - use the International Monetary Fund list). Are the US, Barbados, and Jamaica relatively the same distance apart as in 2010?