All in Numbers
Reading The Economist magazine's special report on China's quest for resources in (15 March 2008) I had an idea. To list United States dollar values and see what they represent in different parts of the world. I thought this might put some perspective on issues and allow people to determine whether we put the right worth on items and the correct emphasis on what makes news (or not). $714 - output per head in the Congo $43 - estimate of value per head of Congolese exports in 2007 ($2.6bn spread over 60m population) $108 - cost of dinner for my wife, two kids and I at the Cactus Club in Vancouver, Canada (15 March 2008) $7.67 - cost of the 2006 elections held in the Congo ($460m spread over 60m population)