James Meade, British recipient of the Nobel Prize in economics, reported in 1961 that Mauritius faced a bleak future. The country was reliant on a single crop (sugar), subject to weather and price shocks, threatened by over-population, had no potential alternative job opportunities, was multi-ethnic, had large income inequalities, and had experienced political conflict. Land was scarce, there was very little technical expertise outside the sugar industry, capital was scarce, and the island was not geographically well positioned. - Wednesday 27 July 2011

The developing world has long lent itself to political soundbites, often with a tone of despair. It wasn’t too long ago that Henry Kissinger called Bangladesh a “basket case” and Tony Blair cited Africa as a ’scar on the conscience of humanity’. Development in poor countries seemed an expensive exercise in futility. Times have changed. Recent years have seen unprecedented progress in the quality of life across the developing world. In the race towards the Millennium Development Goals, the rate of progress in reducing poverty and increasing access to basic education, health, water and other essential services is eye-opening. - Monday 13 June 2011

Some political analyst have said that the removal of Egyptian dictator President Hosni Mubarak would lead to the fall of the police state and result in chaos - which would be exploited by Egypt’s jihadi groups that have long been brutally suppressed by the Mubarak regime. Washington also fears that the ousting of Mubarak could result in an ant-American, anti-Isreali regime. - Tuesday 1 February 2011

Less than a week after the departure of Tunisian dictator, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, Moody’s international financial rating agency has reworked Tunisia’s ratings, taking into account the northern African country’s new political context. - Friday 21 January 2011