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Still does not explain why since the 50's it never developed, lot of examples of quick development like South Korea, Israel, baltic countries ... I guess it's a

Still does not explain why since the 50's it never developed, lot of examples of quick development like South Korea, Israel, baltic countries ... I guess it's a combination of a lot of factors, with Papa Doc not helping either. Just next to the border, the Dominican Republic, a former colony is doing way better.

azinman2 5y ago
Don’t forget Germany and America occupied Haiti for decades each.
BoiledCabbage 5y ago
Different circumstances. Israel received large amounts of foreign aid particularly from the US. South Korea's growth coincided with the Vietnam war and was a combination of domestic changes, and economic growth indirectly supported a lot by the US via aid and purchasing its exports (ex. textiles) - also part of Cold War geo-politics. (both of these are very handwavy summaries). Similarly for Haiti the summary is: post independence country was in debt as most are. 20 years later France demands payment. By late 1800s 80% of GDP is going to paying back that debt and loans taken out to cover the debt. Top holders of the debt are France, Germany, USA. Early 1900s US businesses (mainly banks) want to ensure they'll be repaid, so convince govt to invade Haiti. US occupies Haiti for 20 years. Takes over the national bank, takes the national gold reserves moves it to Wall St for "safe keeping". US puts in place propped up presidents from the mulatto elite vs the black majority population. Causes more economic issues, introduces things like Jim Crow - all of this leads to more racial and class strife. Great depression hits. US and and mulatto elites still controlling the country in the 1940s. This eventually causes the backlash and revolution of 1946 of which Estime then is the first elected on a platform of helping the working class and supporting the poor. Papa Doc rides this same platform of resentment of external intervention particularly in finances, and the poor and black working class being ignored and takes over. He's incredibly corrupt and horrible, but raises to power given the circumstances. Their family rules until the mid 1980s. The country shows some growth, then a massive earthquake hits and it hasn't fully recovered economically. Summary, US banks wanted to be ensured they'd get paid back so convinced US govt to take over the country. The violence and racism of the US occupation along with poor economics lead to a growth of populism in the country, which set the stage for Papa Doc whose family was a disaster. And there hasn't been much time since then to get back on track. So while not the same, a story that rhymes with the US propping up the Shah of Iran and setting the stage for a worse govt, and Batista in Cuba and then getting a worse govt. Here post the US occupation it took longer to develop, but the movement that Papa Doc rode was born out of the US occupation of Haiti.
bookofsand 5y ago
South Korea, Israel and the Baltic Countries have received large inflows of Western capital and technological investments. Haiti, not so much. Ballparking a proxy number, for example annual FDI net inflows circa 2010: KOR=10B, ISR=10B, LTU=1B, DOM=2B, HTI=0.1B. Per capita, 20x-100x investment levels. Why? Like you said, a complex equation.

azinman2 5y ago

Don’t forget Germany and America occupied Haiti for decades each.

BoiledCabbage 5y ago

Different circumstances. Israel received large amounts of foreign aid particularly from the US. South Korea's growth coincided with the Vietnam war and was a combination of domestic changes, and economic growth indirectly supported a lot by the US via aid and purchasing its exports (ex. textiles) - also part of Cold War geo-politics. (both of these are very handwavy summaries). Similarly for Haiti the summary is: post independence country was in debt as most are. 20 years later France demands payment. By late 1800s 80% of GDP is going to paying back that debt and loans taken out to cover the debt. Top holders of the debt are France, Germany, USA. Early 1900s US businesses (mainly banks) want to ensure they'll be repaid, so convince govt to invade Haiti. US occupies Haiti for 20 years. Takes over the national bank, takes the national gold reserves moves it to Wall St for "safe keeping". US puts in place propped up presidents from the mulatto elite vs the black majority population. Causes more economic issues, introduces things like Jim Crow - all of this leads to more racial and class strife. Great depression hits. US and and mulatto elites still controlling the country in the 1940s. This eventually causes the backlash and revolution of 1946 of which Estime then is the first elected on a platform of helping the working class and supporting the poor. Papa Doc rides this same platform of resentment of external intervention particularly in finances, and the poor and black working class being ignored and takes over. He's incredibly corrupt and horrible, but raises to power given the circumstances. Their family rules until the mid 1980s. The country shows some growth, then a massive earthquake hits and it hasn't fully recovered economically. Summary, US banks wanted to be ensured they'd get paid back so convinced US govt to take over the country. The violence and racism of the US occupation along with poor economics lead to a growth of populism in the country, which set the stage for Papa Doc whose family was a disaster. And there hasn't been much time since then to get back on track. So while not the same, a story that rhymes with the US propping up the Shah of Iran and setting the stage for a worse govt, and Batista in Cuba and then getting a worse govt. Here post the US occupation it took longer to develop, but the movement that Papa Doc rode was born out of the US occupation of Haiti.

bookofsand 5y ago

South Korea, Israel and the Baltic Countries have received large inflows of Western capital and technological investments. Haiti, not so much. Ballparking a proxy number, for example annual FDI net inflows circa 2010: KOR=10B, ISR=10B, LTU=1B, DOM=2B, HTI=0.1B. Per capita, 20x-100x investment levels. Why? Like you said, a complex equation.