Apologies, I can see I have taken you out of context. I just believe there are many issues within developing nations that need to be addressed before wealthy nations growth becomes a preponderant factor. For example, finding a way to bolster domestic demand. But yes, I agree wealthy nations continued growth is important for developing nations. I have been following the series, I’m a big fan and have learned a lot from reading the articles. I loved the “medieval European cities” and the one on farming in ancient Greece & Rome.
Western nations have been growing consistently since 1960. Please could you explain to me why continuing on this trajectory will now suddenly result in sustained growth for developing nations, when it hasn’t for the last 60 years. Also, could you please explain why there been large divergence in growth rates for Africa and the west in the last 60 years if your hypothesis had any truth in it?
1) I never said that economic growth in wealthy Western nations is sufficient for economic growth. This is just the first article in an extended series on the topic. It is, however, by far the most effective thing that wealthy nations can do to help.
2) I have many articles about strong economic growth in developing nations and other increased development metrics since 1990:
I think we are on the cusp of a super affordable “Model T” for EVs that is going to take Africa by storm.
Battery level costs of LFP batteries are ~$100 per kWh. A small EV needs about 48 kWh to get 200 miles of range, so a battery will cost $4,800. Combine this with new cheap (<$1,000) permanent magnet motors that use no rare earths, a bare-bones EV could be produced in mass for under $15,000.
Super long-lasting, super reliable, cheaply “fueled” there is some real potential there.
The key will be a radical new car design that is extremely light and aerodynamic. Current car designs are simply too heavy and the focus of battery design is on long range, so the result is very large, very heavy, and expensive batteries.
Once the radical new design proves that there is a market and batteries get lighter and cheaper, then I think more conventional designs can build market share.
Plus you have to remember that Africa does not have a reliable electrical grid, so that will be a big barrier to EVs that cannot recharge directly from the sun.
Apologies, I can see I have taken you out of context. I just believe there are many issues within developing nations that need to be addressed before wealthy nations growth becomes a preponderant factor. For example, finding a way to bolster domestic demand. But yes, I agree wealthy nations continued growth is important for developing nations. I have been following the series, I’m a big fan and have learned a lot from reading the articles. I loved the “medieval European cities” and the one on farming in ancient Greece & Rome.
Western nations have been growing consistently since 1960. Please could you explain to me why continuing on this trajectory will now suddenly result in sustained growth for developing nations, when it hasn’t for the last 60 years. Also, could you please explain why there been large divergence in growth rates for Africa and the west in the last 60 years if your hypothesis had any truth in it?
1) I never said that economic growth in wealthy Western nations is sufficient for economic growth. This is just the first article in an extended series on the topic. It is, however, by far the most effective thing that wealthy nations can do to help.
2) I have many articles about strong economic growth in developing nations and other increased development metrics since 1990:
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/evidence-for-progress-human-development
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/evidence-for-progress-per-capita
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/evidence-for-progress-declining-global
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/evidence-for-progress-per-capita-4df
3) This article is not specifically about Africa, but I mention that continent many times in the above articles (and also in the current series).
I think we are on the cusp of a super affordable “Model T” for EVs that is going to take Africa by storm.
Battery level costs of LFP batteries are ~$100 per kWh. A small EV needs about 48 kWh to get 200 miles of range, so a battery will cost $4,800. Combine this with new cheap (<$1,000) permanent magnet motors that use no rare earths, a bare-bones EV could be produced in mass for under $15,000.
Super long-lasting, super reliable, cheaply “fueled” there is some real potential there.
You might be right.
The key will be a radical new car design that is extremely light and aerodynamic. Current car designs are simply too heavy and the focus of battery design is on long range, so the result is very large, very heavy, and expensive batteries.
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/can-solar-powered-evs-really-happen
Once the radical new design proves that there is a market and batteries get lighter and cheaper, then I think more conventional designs can build market share.
Plus you have to remember that Africa does not have a reliable electrical grid, so that will be a big barrier to EVs that cannot recharge directly from the sun.