01. An Alternate View on Economics
This article is also present in the Spirituality topic
The movement of tectonic plates is engineered by the divine force but drawing of the borders of the country was/is-being done by humans. So the division of natural resources by movement of tectonic plates may point us to something more fundamental. In a large space like planet earth, if the divine force has envisaged the creation of several species (which is perfected by evolutionary forces) in some geography , it might have already planned for the provisioning of the resources needed to support all of the species in that geography. All species are in harmony with nature and are using these resources in a sustainable way except for one - Humans.
I am going to assume (!) that humans are also, a responsible species and that they understand the needs of the co-habitants of this planet earth, before I write about their economic activities. If the economist of a particular country has to plan for the next 100 years (I believe in ideating long term strategies for the growth of a large economic-activities entity like a country irrespective of its election cycles), then he/she should first take stock of as-is conditions and then focus on the geography in which his country is situated in. He/she has to understand what is the nature preferred boundary for the eco-system consisting of his people and other living beings. Obviously he has to ignore the country boundaries while deciding upon this. If this eco-system is spanning several countries, then he should take steps to build a trade block consisting of these countries. Also, when such a trade block is formed, the participant countries should understand the basis of the creation of this trade block and thus give it higher priority over any other trade blocks that it is part of aiming at objectives like political support, diplomatic advantages, security etc., . In long run, if these trade blocks are becoming a bedrock for economic stability and ecological sustainability, the participant countries should not be afraid of re-drawing the borders of their trade block as a new, but bigger country. Sometimes we may have to cross water boundaries too while re-drawing the boundaries.
In my opinion, the following are the main elements of observation while deciding the boundary of such an eco-system for a hypothetical country:
Basic food security of all the living beings of the countries which are part of the trade block
Basic water security of all the living beings of the countries which are part of the trade block
The above 2 should be understood in the light of the combined effect of weather/climate/seasons and the presence of any natural bodies like a river or fresh water lakes.
Enough geography for all the species to move about freely without the limitation of the borders. No native species should get a claustrophobic feeling while moving about in the eco-system.
If special resources are available in that eco-system, an economic model to gain from the development and use of those resources which is acceptable to all the participant countries of the trade block should be designed and implemented. Obviously the country where these special resources are available can be expected to have a strategic advantage in the economic model built to utilize/develop the said resources.
The countries of the trade-block can leverage their combined might in exploring better ways of using innovation, R&D, health-care, space, military, human-capital, tourism, agriculture, education, governance, infrastructure, transportation and technology. Making use of the combined resources of the countries of the trade black in the most efficient, effective and sustainable way should be at the core of any such integration effort.
Members of the trade-block should be consulted for any sale propositions of any special resources before considering the export options. While doing so, the 100 year plan (long term) and mid-term and short-term plans of development of individual countries and for the trade block as a whole should be considered. Similarly imports should also be debated among the member countries before allowing it.
Sectors such as Information Technology should be given special attention as this is generating a group of jobs that requires special skills like mental modelling and abstract thinking. The ability to get trained and excel significantly in the metal capacities as part of day-to-day activities is not present in too many job sectors. This should be considered as a critical value adding sector of any trade-blocks.
While aiming for the balanced growth of all regions of the trade block, the following aspects should be considered:
Start with the human-population distribution map of the in-focus trade block. (It is we, humans that need more help to run with our lives. The animals in the forests seem to be at-peace with nature and all by themselves till we disturb them with our economic activities)
Identify the different resources that are economically viable to extract/process in the map
Identify ways of sustainably utilizing these resources for the benefit of all the species of the trade block
Identify ways of development/use of these resources to benefit local population where the resources are originated while focusing on the equal quality of life for the entire trade block
Identify ways of generating jobs in different sectors using those resources and distributing them evenly
Plan for the distribution of economic activities based on all the resources and the related use. I compare this to the power sector for an easy understanding. If Power (economic value output) is the value targeted to be generated from the economic activities then, it is better for this power to come from small wind-mills, wave mills, hydro-electric powers and solar plants generating jobs for locals and thus supporting a local buzz of economic activities than from a high risk nuclear plant (or a giant coal power plant) which is importing costly nuclear fuel rods from outside and which is also damaging to local environments through its operations.
Based on all of the above, if you could overlay GDP figures (over the population figures) on the map above, of a small region in the trade block, with a possible support of an exclusive micro-economic plan, then those figures should not vary too much from the other such regions of the trade-block map.