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The Locust Effect summary
Gary A. Haugen and Victor Boutros
Why the End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence
15 mins
Brief summary
The Locust Effect by Gary A. Haugen and Victor Boutros illustrates how violence and corruption cripple developing countries, impeding economic growth and poverty reduction. The book offers a fresh way of thinking about foreign aid and international development.
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The Locust Effect
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Key idea 1 of 7
Violence has a big impact on the populations and economies of developing countries.
Many people believe that impoverished communities are the root of society’s problems. Wealthier classes even tend to fear them. But low-income communities aren’t the real threat – that comes from those who are violent toward them.
Violence is the most destructive force in society. It’s worse than any natural disaster, even hurricanes.
Hurricane Stan, for instance, took a big toll on Guatemala’s economy when it hit in 2005, and was widely regarded as a huge disaster. However, criminal violence costs Guatemala roughly twice as much each year. It accounts for a 7.3 percent loss in GDP, according to World Bank development reports.
Violent crime has an even greater cost in countries like Colombia or El Salvador, where it’s said to reduce economic growth by as much as 25 percent every year.
Violence harms a nation’s economy in a number of ways. For one, it cuts down the workforce by rendering healthy people incapable of work.
Disability Adjusted Life Years measures this problem by estimating how many years of work are lost because of violence. Every year, nine million Disability Adjusted Life Years are lost just due to women being raped or abused.
This has a big impact in places like Africa, where 80 percent of the farm work is done by women. Violence can severely cut food production in some of the world’s poorest regions.
And of course, violence has an even greater impact on the victims. This is especially disastrous in developing countries like Ethiopia. A 2009 Human Rights report in Ethiopia showed that victims of violence suffer higher rates of depression, substance abuse and suicide.
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What is The Locust Effect about?
The Locust Effect (2014) argues that foreign aid is only useful to developing countries if their impoverished citizens have protection from violence and crime. Without this, aid money is wasted because neither individuals nor businesses are safe to grow. Financial donations should aim to strengthen national criminal justice systems, so countries can serve themselves in the long run.
The Locust Effect Review
The Locust Effect (2014) exposes the hidden crisis of violence and its impact on global poverty. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers a shocking revelation of how violence undermines development efforts, making it a crucial book for anyone interested in social justice.
- Uncovers compelling stories and case studies from around the world, giving readers a firsthand look at the devastating consequences of unchecked violence.
- Challenges readers to rethink their understanding of poverty and its causes, paving the way for a more holistic approach to addressing global challenges.
Best quote from The Locust Effect
Without the world noticing, the locusts of common, criminal violence are right now ravaging the lives and dreams of billions of our poorest neighbors.
—Gary A. Haugen and Victor Boutros
Who should read The Locust Effect?
- Students of political science, international relations and foreign policy
- Donors and sponsors looking to help the developing world
- Anyone interested in global development
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The Locust Effect FAQs
What is the main message of The Locust Effect?
The main message of The Locust Effect is that without functioning justice systems, the poor are vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
How long does it take to read The Locust Effect?
The reading time for The Locust Effect varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in 15 minutes.
Is The Locust Effect a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Locust Effect is worth reading as it sheds light on the issues faced by the poor and encourages action to improve justice systems.
Who is the author of The Locust Effect?
The authors of The Locust Effect are Gary A. Haugen and Victor Boutros.
What to read after The Locust Effect?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Locust Effect, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Eve by Cat Bohannon
- Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
- The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs
- Raising Critical Thinkers by Julie Bogart
- Read People Like a Book by Patrick King
- Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
- Marriage Be Hard by Kevin and Melissa Fredericks
- Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
- Be Here Now by Ram Dass
- The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier