"In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable." - Robert Arnott
Nowadays, we see government workers as powerful authority figures. In the short run, they most probably are; they work on solutions for many of our problems and they "try" to make our country better with the money that we pay them. Note I emphasised out the word short-run because that's what they focus on. There is a Spanish saying that is as follows: "The president only thinks until their next election, as do the politicians." I say this because they are caring only about getting re-elected and being control.
Peru is a semi-stable economy that's using all of it's resources to focus on the present, not on the future. We are investing in today but not in tomorrow. An outstanding country as Finland, has been constantly investing in what they believe is the most essential long-term investment: education. Teachers in Finland are respected people, they are known as hard workers that are persuading a difficult and productive carrier. Unlike Peru, they all possess complete autonomy of their class. There are neither curriculums they have to follow nor other teacher's paths. It's his class; he's responsible for their education by all means.
Why isn't peru as sucessful in education as finland?
💰Long-term investments💰
Peru, a developing country like any other, is currently investing on today. Why? Because the government is being incentivised by all wrong means. Money. A massive five-letter word with great power in it. It enables you to get your dream house, but it's also able to get you into a lot of trouble, as it's doing today to many Peruvians. Sad huh? Well it's true.
Last night, I was reading a couple articles on Medium and I crossed by a peculiar article that opened my mind. It's named by "How Would You Live Today If You Could See Yourself In 20 Years?" by Tyler Tervooren. It talked about how investing in your ability to make decisions is the most important investment you're able to make. Why? Because the path of your life relies on the decisions you take or leave. They connected the long-term decision making to imagining yourself 2O years from now.
How does this connect to education in Peru or Finland?
Simple, Finland has decided to invest in their education for a long period of time now; maybe 30 years or more. Peru? They have invested on cheap roads, cheap education, buildings, parks, in sidewalks, and most importantly, for them, in themselves. In other words, they're investing in themselves only, not in good a good productive education for Peru, not in safe clean roads nor in productiveness for the poor.
Simple, Finland has decided to invest in their education for a long period of time now; maybe 30 years or more. Peru? They have invested on cheap roads, cheap education, buildings, parks, in sidewalks, and most importantly, for them, in themselves. In other words, they're investing in themselves only, not in good a good productive education for Peru, not in safe clean roads nor in productiveness for the poor.
Inclusive & Extractive
These are two important words in the confusing world of government-related terms. They're known as the title states, inclusive & extractive .
- Inclusive government is referred to covering all services needed: water, pollution, sanitation, etc. It includes the society within its decisions. Finland, again, is an inclusive government, talking about education, because they invest in their people, in order for their future success in life. In other words, everyone is included in a governmental decision.
- Extractive government is what's seen in Peru sometimes. The government is investing in the short-term future. They are aware that they have a chance of not being re-elected in the next four years so they try to work upon their small time left. Investing in a beautiful park seems as a smart investment for them, but in the long run there will probably be more homeless people living in that park because of its beauty. Education, a smart nine-letter word which about 10% of Peruvians lack of. What is done in order to change that? Not a lot. Governments, by law, take care of the public schools around Lima, trusting on their none-degree teachers and unsafe building and grounds. What is a great long-term investment? Education. A big thing that makes peru extractive, is that a small amount of people own the vast majority of the wealth.