Issue 1 Explore JFM 2017
Big Picture
Having money widens the choice . More choice is a deceptive term and does not always mean better life or well being . In fact as we explored , wider choice many lead to confusion and stress . Here are 3 seemingly unrelated concepts , in the big picture , that would majorly affect the way we see choices . Pleasure Trap , Omnivore ’ s Dilemma and Resource Curse
Why is it difficult for children or adults to resist dense food - cakes , chips , pastries - and to find pleasure eating healthy - fruits and vegetables ? Human beings like other animals have been living in nature , hunting and gathering in conditions of scarcity . We have biologically evolved to eat dense foods , and to eat as much as we can find . Imagine ‘ as much as we can find ’ in a supermarket . Our biology , thus is ill-equipped to deal with modern world of plenty . We have moved from ‘ foraging for food / basic needs ’. In the modern world , we need to forage for the ‘ right food - our true needs ’, else we risk falling into what Dr . Douglas Lisle calls the Pleasure Trap .
One glance through the supermarket aisles makes one wonder in awe about the amount of choice there is in food - an omnivore ’ s delight ? But a closer look reveals a different story . All the so called variety of options not only confuse the buyer , but they all have one or two common ingredient in sizeable proportion - corn and soya . They are present in the forms of sugars , thickeners , oils , in practically every commercially made food choice . Journalist Michael Pollan calls it Omnivore ’ s Dilemma .
One would think having more resources would guarantee access to more options and hence progress and well being . In case of nations , one would imagine chancing on a goldmine or oil would ensure development and progress . Research shows it is just the opposite - ‘ resource abundance ’ leads to conflict , corruption and poverty . Despite their abundance in oil , diamonds and precious minerals , countries like Angola , Nigeria , Sudan show poor economic and health indicators . Some call this the Problem of Plenty or Paradox of Plenty . Economist Richard Auty called it Resource Curse .
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