Economics

Sugar, tea coffee and palm oil are the backbone of many Third World economies. But the processing and marketing of these commodities is controlled by the rich industrialised nations. This unequal exchange leaves Third World producers highly vulnerable to market conditions – and it is poor people who are hardest hit.

Namibia is one of the richest countries in Africa – yet most Namibians live in extreme poverty. For twenty years the country has been illegally occupied by South Africa. Twenty years in which the apartheid system has caused massive misery and deprivation amongst the majority of Namibians: while South African and foreign economic interests have […]

For Richer For Poorer investigates how the debt crisis and economic policies of the world’s wealthier nations are creating mounting poverty in the Third World. Examples from Oxfam’s work illustrate how poor people are coping with the effects of policies decided thousands of miles away.