The_Open_Door_deel1

XX
Chapter 11 pays attention to one of the most important aspects
of the development of Liberia: the education and training of its
population. The chapter begins with an analysis of the transfer
of technology and the industrial and/or technological cooperation
between the foreign investors and the host country. It subsequently
describes the efforts of the Liberian Government to
increase the productivity of the country's manpower by providing
training and education, The chapter ends with a detailed discussion
of the educational situation in Liberia at the end of the
period under study, 1978.
The enormous change in the area of transportation and communication
which necessarily accompanied the operations of the foreign
investors is the subject of Chapter 12.
Chapter 13 clearly shows that Liberia changed from a predominantly
subsistence economy around the turn of the century into
a developing economy. The chapter begins with the development
which took place with respect to the volume and value of its
international trade. Since virtually all foreign investments in
Liberia were supply oriented, this should not come as a surprise.
This also corresponds with the development of the transportation
facilities. These were, above all, geared to the export of the
produce of the foreign owned and foreign managed companies. The
underdevelopment of Liberia is painfully realised when the
country's national accounts are analysed, first, because they
are hardly available and, moreover, very unreliable, and secondly,
because the structure of the Domestic Product reflects
the relative importance of foreigners in the Liberian economy.
The latter fact partly explains the big difference between the
Gross Domestic Product and the Gross National Product which is
subsequently discussed.
The last section of this chapter is a case study of the Liberian
Government's policy with respect to the utilisation of the country's
manpower. It discusses in detail the labour recruitment
policy which was introduced when Firestone needed tens of thousands
of tappers. In view of the payment to intermediaries for
the recruitment of this involuntary labour, only a thin line
separated these practices from slavery. The interests of the
foreign rubber companies and of the Liberian politician/plantation
owners maintained this system for more than thirty years
until it was officially abolished as a result of international
pressure.
The Final Chapter presents the major conclusions of the present
study. It should be repeated here that the period under investigation
ended in 1977 and that later events cannot be accounted
for. This book would not be complete without the implications as
to policy following the analysis. If implemented, these recommendations
and suggestions for a change of policy may mitigate
the economic and financial crisis the country will face in the
1980's. Owing to its vulnerability and sensitivity to changes
in the foreign demand for its main product, iron ore, an economic
recession began in the late 1970's to which the Government