Fixing Zimbabwe's economy

Name

August 29, 2011

Bus

            If I were the President of Zimbabwe I would first sell off government owned arable land than encourage the new owners of the farm land to build partnerships with foreign investors to grow maize, tobacco, cotton to be sold in the open market in exchange for  the necessary skills and equipment to create profitable commercial farms. I would create and pass laws to protect personal property in an effort to show foreign investors that if they invest in Zimbabwe they can feel secure that they won’t lose their investment to a government take over. To encourage production I would have to allow the market set the price for all goods bought and sold in Zimbabwe instead of forcing prices down unnaturally. This would at first make food prices rise but as production of basic needs increased the price should start move towards something more affordable on its own.

            Cutting government salaries and benefits as well as unneeded jobs, while very unpopular needs to happen in order to fund other government activities that could prove more valuable to the overall economy. By building infrastructure the government can make the movement of goods cheaper, easier, as well as making it much possible to supply business and people with steady sources of water and electricity. Allowing prices to rise and fall on their own, as well as protecting people’s rights to personal property will go a long way to improving Zimbabwe’s economy. A government that focuses on the most efficient use of funds instead of the populist short term fixes will improve the overall economy. Trying to create a more equal economy tends to weaken the entire economy. People want to have more than others and when you restrict that desire by forcing equality into the system production falls, prices rise and investors flee. By taking away the reward of taking risk people will not take the risk.