"Economic growth has failed for one fourth of the world population" is the title of a press release by the United Nations Program for Development, dated July 17, with reference to the Report on Human Development 1996, published recently. The press release adds that the global difference between the rich and the poor increases daily and that, despite a noticeable boost in the economic growth of fifteen countries during the last three decades, 1600 people stayed behind and find themselves in a worse situation than fifteen years ago.

However, we cannot expect a country that grows economically to benefit its neighbors. Each country must be studied independently.

The challenge that must be taken by the economies of poor countries is that of economic growth. Also, this must be sustained throughout time. Only by means of rapid economic growth can the majorities gain well-being.

In definite agreement with the article, is the statement that successful countries are the ones that have invested in education and access to social services.

We must not worry about whether the gap between the rich and the less rich is greater. We must make the poor rich. Wealth is created, produced, multiplied, and even shared; but it cannot be distributed.

It is not true that wealthy countries become that way by means of crushing the poor. A country is poor because of itself, its inhabitants, and ultimately, because of its government. It is not forbidden to be a wealthy country, but to be one, the economic system that prevails must be one that awards competition, excellence, and does not give privileges to any economic sector. The economic system must potentialize all the people, making them more productive and thus creating wealth, which, summed up, becomes economic growth.