Michael Barone (who's always worth reading) has an interesting idea that I haven't heard elsewhere:
An Iraqi Permanent Fund would take all or some substantial part of Iraq's oil royalties, invest them, and pay annual dividends to every citizen. I have urged this as long ago as April 2003, and the New America Foundation's Steven Clemons urged the same thing in a piece that appeared at just about the same time in the New York Times.
It seems to me that an Iraqi Permanent Fund would have several good effects.
It would reduce the flow of oil money to the state. In most oil-rich states, that money has become a source of corruption and an incentive for greedy men to seize dictatorial control of the state.
Read the whole thing. And stop in to his blog from time-to-time; there's always thoughtful commentary up there...
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