Chapter 3562 Scissors Gap

"Mr. Lin, do you have any solution? If you do, our government will fully cooperate!" President Mbeki looked at Lin Feng and said expectantly. .

Mandela also looked expectant and nervous. Although South Africa's economy is booming, it also has the most common and biggest disadvantage of developing countries - the huge gap between the rich and the poor.

In Western developed countries, the normal social system should be like a rugby ball. Small on both sides and large in the middle. That is, the middle class is huge and supports the entire country. This can put the entire country in a very healthy and positive state.

However, in South Africa, in most developing countries, an hourglass-shaped social state is presented. Large on both sides and small in the middle. The middle class that supports the entire country is extremely rare, while the number of poor people is huge, and the number of high-income rich people is also huge, which leads to extreme social unfairness. It also leads to a society where the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. The society has become deformed.

Lin Feng pondered for a long time.

"I think the only way to change the current situation is to increase the income of the South African people and give more South Africans an income." Lin Feng analyzed.

Mbeki nodded. But at present, South Africa's unemployment rate is extremely high, ranking first in the world, with an unemployment rate of 24.7%, and this is the government's statistics. In fact, the social unemployment rate will only be higher. In particular, South Africa's census system is not as accurate as that of China and Western developed countries. Its 48 million population statistics are a relatively conservative number. The real number will exceed this number.

With such a high unemployment rate, Mbeki has thought of many ways, but he doesn't know how to increase the employment rate of South Africans. After all, South Africa's entire national economy is like this, with a weak economy and lack of industry. It is not easy for such a country to increase the employment rate.

"I do have a way. Libya is now building infrastructure on a large scale. In the next 3-5 years, Libya will invest in many projects. I think I can help build a bridge and contact President Gaddafi to allow South Africa to export labor, so that Libya can also obtain a large number of laborers, and South Africa can also solve the employment problem of some people." Lin Feng suggested.

Go to Libya for employment! Mbeki frowned. He had mixed feelings about Libya. On the one hand, although Libya's GDP is not as good as South Africa's, its per capita income is much higher than South Africa's, ranking first in Africa. Of course, this is mainly due to Libya's oil and natural gas resource exports. In this regard, South Africa lacks a lot. Going to work in Libya can indeed provide some South Africans with a job that is enough to satisfy the South African people.

But Mbeki is worried about Libya's security. This country has just been lifted from the ban, but its relationship with the United States has always been a thorn in the hearts of African countries, like a thorn in the throat. I don't know when this country will become the next Iraq. Mbeki is worried that the South Africans will go there. What if the United States announces a strike on Libya in three or five years? What about the South Africans working in Libya? South Africa does not have the financial resources to charter a plane to let these South Africans return home.

At that time, facing the possibility that their compatriots may suffer from war and danger abroad, they are powerless. What should they do? As the president of a country, there are many things to consider.

"Mr. Lin, we have heard about the massive infrastructure projects in Libya, and they are said to be from Chinese construction companies. If our citizens can go to Libya to work, I think this is an opportunity to change their own destiny. But I am worried about the safety of these people if there is unrest in Libya?" Mbeki said worriedly.

"Haha, President Mbeki, what you consider is indeed very important. You can only go home safely. Otherwise, you will be in heaven and your money will be in the bank. However, instead of facing the current predicament of being in danger of losing your life at any time and the desperate situation of not seeing the future,

I think it is better to give it a try. Excuse me, South Africa's security issues are also extremely worrying, and South Africa is a country that allows guns. You may not be safe at home." Lin Feng said bluntly.

Mbeki and Mandela both looked dark. Although South Africa's economy is booming, ranking first in Africa and known as the fifth BRICS country, South Africa's unemployment rate and public security are its extremely embarrassing weaknesses.

"Of course, I can also guarantee one thing, that is, if there is a war in Libya, I will try my best to help those South African citizens working in South Africa return home and avoid the danger of war. Of course, if possible, I also hope that the war will not happen as much as possible." Lin Feng said loudly.

Don't let the war happen! Mbeki and Mandela looked at each other. They have been in the political arena for so long. How could they not hear the hidden meaning in Lin Feng's words? This means that if the United States really wants to attack Libya, they hope that South Africa can mediate in the middle. However, which country the United States wants to attack is not something they can stop.

"Mr. Lin, our South Africa is just a small African country. Even developed countries like the United Kingdom may not be able to stop the United States' decision." Mbeki said in a deep voice.

"Haha, just do your best. After all, Libya has oil and natural gas resources that are rich enough to rival a country. Their large-scale infrastructure will provide a large number of employment opportunities. President Mbeki, I believe that Libya's stability is good for Africa." Lin Feng said in a long voice.

Mbeki and Mandela nodded. If they were only asked to speak for Libya, they would be willing to make such a deal. After all, compared with the future of South Africans, it would not be difficult for them to say this and slightly offend the United States.

"Since we have reached a consensus on this point, I will tell President Gaddafi to come and talk to you in detail. In addition to labor exports, South Africa itself is also a resource-rich country and one of the five major mineral countries." Lin Feng said with a smile.

South Africa has a huge number of mineral resources, among which the reserves of gold, platinum group metals, manganese, vanadium, chromium, and aluminosilicates rank first in the world, of which gold reserves account for 60% of the world, vermiculite, zirconium, titanium, and fluorite rank second, phosphates and antimony rank fourth, uranium and lead rank fifth, coal and zinc rank eighth, iron ore rank ninth, and copper rank fourteenth. If all of these are mined, it will be enough for South Africa to leap into the ranks of developed countries.

Of course, this also involves a mining issue and a technical issue. At present, there is a trade theory called "scissors gap" in the world.

The so-called "scissors gap" originally originated from Soviet Russia in the 1920s. This word was first seen in Trotsky's speech at the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1919). Later, Lenin mentioned this issue in the debate on the trade union issue, and Trotsky mentioned it again in his "New Direction". Stalin also made many theoretical discussions on the situation at that time between 1927 and 1929, but Stalin concluded that "agricultural collectivization is necessary". From the perspective of historical development, it is a product of the capitalist system. When industrial capitalists with advanced production technology exchange industrial and agricultural products with farmers with backward production technology, they raise the prices of industrial products and lower the prices of agricultural products, using the scissors gap to exploit farmers. In colonial and semi-colonial countries, the scissors gap also reflects the economic plunder of imperialism.

At the same time, the scissors gap is also one of the important means of exchange for developed countries in international trade. It refers to the developed countries using their monopoly position to control the foreign trade of developing countries, on the one hand, to lower the world market price of primary products produced by developing countries, and on the other hand, to increase the world market price of industrial products produced by developed countries. If this phenomenon is represented by a graph, it looks like a pair of open scissors. Developed countries can earn high profits through this means of exchange.

So, why do Western countries have to promote the integration of the whole family economy? This is the reason. Because through global economic integration, they can control these underdeveloped countries. Keep their economies under their control.

"I will provide some technology as much as possible to minimize the trade deficit caused by the "scissors gap" trade. At the same time, I will invest in the construction of some high-tech labor-intensive enterprises in South Africa to help South Africa solve the population employment problem as much as possible." Lin Feng said with a smile.

Mbeki and Mandela's eyes lit up. If Lin Feng is willing to provide advanced technology and build high-tech labor-intensive enterprises in South Africa, this is a truly great act of kindness. It seems that Lin Feng really wants to build some relationships and aid for Gaddafi in Africa. In this way, the attitude towards Libya will indeed change in the future.

"Mr. Lin, thank you for everything you have done for the South African people. Thank you!" Mbeki stood up and said emotionally.

"Haha, I am a very honest person. As I said before, there is no love or hatred without reason in this world. So, I do this for the benefit. It's just that I am not greedy, not as black-hearted as those Western jackals. What I pursue is mutual benefit." Lin Feng said with a smile.

"Haha, what a good phrase of mutual benefit! Well said! This is far better than what those Westerners say on the surface, for the African people and for our future. Haha, those guys talk nonsense, but in fact they just want to enslave us. Mr. Lin, you are a real person and will always be our friend!" Mbeki held Lin Feng's hand tightly.

The next day, Gaddafi flew from Libya to South Africa and met with President Mbeki. The two sides reached an agreement on the export of a total of 100,000 South African labor services, and the two sides will formally establish diplomatic relations and become trading partners. And the witness of all this is naturally Lin Feng.

Lin Feng! US Secretary of State Rice frowned.

(To be continued)