OVER THE LAST two centuries the individuals seeking escape from the equilibrium of poverty–rejecting accommodation–have had one remarkably certain recourse. For most of those who have attempted it, it has served well. For their children even better. It has only rarely required any active effort on the part of governments. More often it has needed only their acquiescence and, most often, in recent times, only their nonvigilance. It has placed no strain on the capacity for public action of the poor countries. Where fully exploited, it has not only involved the escape from poverty for those directly involved, but it has facilitated escape within the equilibrium of poverty for those motivated to a different course. It is a remedy for those rejecting accommodation that is now being employed on a scale greater than ever before. As a policy for poverty, it evokes relatively little discussion. Most courses on economic development are given, many books on the subject are written, without any mention of it whatever. 

The recourse is for those who reject accommodation to move from the poor country to one of the advanced industrial nations. As a remedy for poverty, it focuses with precision on those for whom such a policy is alone workable and for whom it must be designed–those who, rejecting accommodation, are motivated to improve their economic position. No effort or money is wasted on those not yet so motivated. One marvels, on occasion, at our capacity, especially where social convenience seems to be involved, to ignore the obvious. It was never so worthy of wonder as here. 

These are the opening paragraphs of a chapter suggesting migration as a way of dealing with poverty. The book is written by an economist.

I’m working on a talk on immigration to give at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Monterey next Tuesday and, in my research, I came across this passage.

Question: Who wrote this?

HT2 Cyril Morong.