Global problems are sometimes just about shortages. There are many of us, and we live on a small planet. There often isn’t enough to go around, whether you’re talking about doctors in Malawi, housing in London or Montreal, or women in China.
Economics likes to deal with shortages through pricing, government through regulation and/or price controls. Both can create all sorts of social injustice.
Happily, some people are dealing with shortages through innovation, and we showcase three very different examples on the Upside this week.
In Indonesia, alas, children who read books are the exception, not the rule. (Actually, that’s also the case in my own home, but let’s ignore that for now.) Books are scarce and so are purveyors of books.
But pedalling enthusiastically into the breach are an inspiring assemblage of do-it-yours(h)elf librarians, bringing books to the masses on tuk-tuks and other improvised devices, as Sian Cain found out.
Amsterdam has plenty of books, just not enough houses for the people who read them. Senay Boztas found out about a bold new plan to address the imbalance.
In India, healthcare is a crunch point: per capita, the country has fewer than a quarter of the doctors that the UK has. A new healthcare scheme aims to make limited resources more widely available.
And what about water, one of the most threatening scarcities of all? In a week in which even damp, rainy England was warned it might run out of the stuff in 25 years, we are keen to investigate technologies and movements to save, treasure and better use the stuff of life. Get in touch with your tips at theupside@theguardian.com. We will endeavour to publish on this in April.
What we liked
This piece in Wired about the people trying to improve the world of internet recommendations. And while we’re on tech, this piece from CNBC that looked at hi-tech alternatives to opioids and other forms of pain relief.
Also this piece in Positive News about the rise and rise of community fridges.
What we heard
Muttlee7, in the comments under the Amsterdam housing story:
What the hell is the point of providing municipal housing if it is just acquired by rip-off businessmen to rent out at a huge profit? As for new housing, it seems all investors want to do is build millionaire style flats, as has happened a lot in London recently. A lot of these stay empty for long periods, which in this time of a huge affordable housing shortage is something of an obscenity. What kind of planning and government is this?
Ruth Webb, via email:
I’ve just been reading the article on p 28 of today’s Guardian. Is there a way of donating to these libraries?
Where was the Upside?
In the northern hemisphere, quite literally, where for the next six months there will be more day than night.
Here’s why.
Spring is about to be sprung! 🔊 #equinox pic.twitter.com/EvmRmS5quy
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) March 19, 2019
Oh, and in Finland, named again by the United Nations as the world’s happiest country. But then you knew that already …
