Beth Haynes, professor of economics and chair of the International Business Department, spoke on the challenge of poverty and explored three methods of alleviation in the 2005 David O. McKay Lecture.
First, Haynes established the problem of poverty with a series of data documenting the endemic human suffering of the poor. She also illustrated the problem with pictures she had taken while conducting research in poverty-stricken countries around the world.
Not dwelling too long on the problem, Haynes proceeded by exploring three solutions to bring people out of poverty and eventually into prosperity: increasing output, redistributing goods and self-reliance.
"The growth approach is rooted in the reality that output limits consumption," Haynes said. "Growth is essential to alleviating poverty when current output is insufficient to provide necessities for all."
However, Haynes said the drawback of a growth-oriented approach is the potential for allocative inefficiency. In other words, there is more to be had, but the same few individuals have it all and the poor stay poor.
"A focus on economic growth alone does not address distribution issues," she said. "Output may increase, but the poor will remain poor if they have no connection to the rising output."
This leads to the next method of alleviating poverty – redistribution of goods. Haynes defined this as the simple transfer of income or goods from the prosperous to the poor.
"To the extent that real suffering is reduced, this approach satisfies the demands of allocative efficiency and provides sustenance," said Haynes. "However, if total production is low enough, poverty would still exist even with a completely equal distribution of goods and income" – what President Howard W. Hunter referred to this as “poverty equally divided.”
Thus, Haynes showed that both an increase of output and a redistribution of goods are necessary in alleviating poverty. However, she further emphasized the importance of a third method that promotes self-reliance.
Haynes referred to a well-known adage of Chinese philosopher, Kwan Su, to illustrate this third approach: "Give a man a fish to eat and he will have a single meal. Teach him how to fish and he will eat all his life."
"Redistributing output is giving a man a fish. It provides for his immediate need," she explained. "Promoting economic growth would compare to increasing the number of fish in the sea, resulting in a greater likelihood that each man, including the unskilled and ill equipped, would catch a fish. The self reliance approach includes not only teaching a man to fish, but also helping him foster the fish population while also gaining access to things like nets, poles, boats, and fishing licenses. This approach leads toward prosperity for all."
"There is theoretical and doctrinal support for all three approaches," she continued. "However, the self reliance approach alone addresses both productivity and distribution concerns as well as promoting widespread sustenance, self esteem and freedom. It offers the most direct hope of eradicating poverty."
While the responsibility for helping the poor falls on all of us, Haynes said, the students of BYU-Hawaii past and present have the specific responsibility to alleviate poverty in their immediate families, the church and their countries.
"Fifty years ago at the founding of this institution, David O. McKay said that its alumni would have an impact 'towards the establishment of peace internationally,'" she said. "Abject poverty is a recognized obstacle to this peace. Part of the fulfillment of President McKay's prophesy may be the role you can play in moving individuals from poverty into prosperity.
"Indeed, the very education you are receiving here will be the vehicle for bringing some of your families out of poverty," she continued. "However, your potential impact in alleviating poverty extends far beyond your immediate families and far beyond the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints."
Haynes validated and reinforced this charge with the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley, who in 1969 spoke at the commencement of the Church College of Hawaii.
"This is one of the purposes of your education, to carry from this institution a knowledge of skills which will improve the status of people and their capacity to provide for their needs," President Hinckley said. "Your people need your help and your leadership in building toward a new glory, toward the making of a greater people... Not selfish, but generous in giving of their abundance to the less fortunate of the earth."
As part of the David O. McKay Lecture Series, Haynes received a commemorative plaque from the university and a cash award from the Polynesian Culture Center to aid her in future academic pursuits.
Jared Ludlow, chair of the Faculty Advisory Council, announced Mark James, associate professor of TESOL and chair of the English Language Teaching and Learning Department, as next year's David O. McKay Lecturer.
Read and listen to Haynes' complete address.