Debt crisis in developing world is emotive issue

Editor - Hagan's comments on the debt relief campaign are ill-informed. The Jubilee 2000 coalition calls for "debt cancellation for the world's poorest countries on a case by case basis" (www.jubilee2000uk.org).

Firstly, it must be noted that particular emphasis is placed on the need for tough conditions for debt cancellation to ensure that any funds released are not corruptly diverted. Jubilee 2000 proposes an independent cancellation process involving international creditors and local democratic institutions whereby corruption is countered by accountability of both creditor and debtor nations through a free press and greater transparency.¹

Secondly, the widely held misconception that corruption is the cause of poverty must be quashed. In fact, macroeconomic theory states that poverty is a cause of corruption; thus we must consider that the debt burden imposed by the West on the poorest countries of the world is the likely cause of the economic instability in these countries. I do not pretend to understand the intricate economics of the debt crisis, but my longstanding involvement in the Jubilee 2000 campaign has shown me that its well respected policy makers do.

Finally, I wish to dispute Hagan's wish that the debt in developing countries "is not turned into an emotive issue." The UN estimates that if funds were diverted back into health and education from debt repayment, the lives of 7 million children a year could be saved. This is surely an emotive issue, and it is for this very reason that 17 million people have signed a petition supporting the Jubilee 2000 campaign. It is to the credit of UK medical students that they too have responded to the bare and emotive details that highlight the true immorality of the debt crisis.2

Sarah Finer, fourth year medical student, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London WC1E 6BT
Email: s.finer@ucl.ac.uk


studentBMJ 2000;08:259-302 August ISSN 0966-6494

1. Hanlon J, Pettifor A. Kicking the habit: finding a lasting solution to addictive lending and borrowing-and its corrupting side-effects. London: Jubilee 2000 Coalition www.jubilee2000uk.org/reports/habitfull.htm (accessed 27 June).
2. Finer S. Medical students campaign for Jubilee 2000. studentBMJ 2000;8:137.