{UAH} Response to Wilson: Who is responsible for the creation of jobs in a Uganda?

1.       Is the Government of Uganda principally responsible for the creation of employment in Uganda? Yes. 

2.       If so, in what ways should it accomplish this? 

a. lower interest rates so that investors can access cheaper loans. (at some point, I heard rates were as high 20%)

b. invest in agriculture (cheap loans payable on harvest, provide adequate extension services, provide research in better farming methods...copy from other countries that are getting it, rebuild unions/cooperatives and let them choose their own leaders like they used to do before 1986,  etc). This is probably the single best way to curb unemployment in Uganda.  And it is the easiest. The return on investment for govt is so high.  Low income people spend most of their earnings.  That means the wages are recycled back into the economy.  That creates more local jobs. Uganda has rich soils that are cheap (most families own some piece of land). etc.

c. lower taxes

d. lower license fees.  Govt (both central and local) charge very high fees  

e. fight corruption

3.       If not, then who is and why is the unemployment rate so high? see above

4.       Finally, how should countries like Uganda (and maybe cities like Detroit) address and resolve the issue of high unemployment in their jurisdictions? Detroit is dying because of NAFTA and China, etc.  The solution is to renegotiate NAFTA, force China to play by the rules (stop them from illegally/unfairly manipulating its currency to make its goods cheaper in US, allow US products unfettered access like Chinese goods get here, impose tariffs to prevent Asians dumping goods here, etc.

---In UNAANET@yahoogroups.com, <WILTEC10@...> wrote :

Community Members.

Every now and then I find myself either engaged or listening in on a discussion that perks my interest.  In one such instance, I listened to a discussion on radio about how the US and Michigan State Governments abandoned Detroit and knowingly caused the (still-current) high unemployment rate.

This got me thinking about unemployment in many parts of Africa.  It has been reported that as many as 50% of young people graduating from Universities in some countries are unable to find a job in their chosen fields of study.  I have read somewhere of Makerere University graduates driving Boda Bodas to survive.

So what is government's role and responsibility in the creation of jobs?  With specific reference to Uganda, is the government to blame for the high unemployment rates among University graduates?

Back in the 50's and 60's, the colonial powers in Uganda created UDC – the Uganda Development Corporation.  Here is an excerpt from the UDC website.

Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) is the development and investment arm of the Government of Uganda, with the mandate to promote and facilitate the industrial and economic development of Uganda.

The website lists several projects either currently under development or already completed.

So let me throw out these questions for general discussion. 

1.       Is the Government of Uganda principally responsible for the creation of employment in Uganda?

2.       If so, in what ways should it accomplish this?

3.       If not, then who is and why is the unemployment rate so high?

4.       Finally, how should countries like Uganda (and maybe cities like Detroit) address and resolve the issue of high unemployment in their jurisdictions?