Six Case Histories Illustrating Perpetual Poverty in Indonesia

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that a “happiness index” correlates with economies that do not show
excessive gap between rich and poor. In other words, even rich people cannot really be happy when surrounded by
extreme poverty, no matter how strongly they ignore or deny such destitute conditions. Accordingly, we need
methods of securing much better results from “throwing money” at poverty problems than have heretofore
occurred. Some Achenese of my acquaintance feel that perhaps 80% of the tremendous amount of post-tsunami
disaster aid was lost to corruption and thievery.