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Smiling Ethiopia
Ewnetu Haile
The past four months have been sensational for Ethiopians as there has come a leadership that genuinely strives to peace, fraternity and unity in the country. One of the most crucial aspects of leadership is to rally people behind a certain goal or policy. Accordingly, Abiy Ahmed’s (Ph.D.) government has rallied not just Ethiopians but also the people of Eritrea along with it. The level of support the new government has received from all Ethiopians is unprecedented at least in the past half a century.
As is the case in most of the countries around the world these days, Ethiopians felt separated from their political leaders. Ethiopians were not sure if the issues raised by the political leaders of the past represented their interests. They felt like their interests were left in the back burner while the political elite pursued their own interests and those of a small group of people. The huge emphasis on ethnicity and complete neglect of being Ethiopian was a constant problem raised by the people. The political agenda of the ruling elite felt strange to ordinary Ethiopians despite the long time they spent in office. The people always felt like there was something kept behind them – some agenda that does not really stand in their best interest.
The more time passed by under such a system, the people started to interpret governmental messages a certain way. The trend was to inversely interpret those messages. For instance, the announcement of law enforcement foiling an attempted bomb attack would be interpreted by the public as a choreographed bombing drill carried out by the government to implicate a certain group.
Over the past four months, though, the situation has changed dramatically. Ethiopians now believe their leaders mainly because they don’t sense any clandestine motives to lie to them. The new group of leadership talks straight just like the rest of Ethiopians do. They preach peace, love, forgiveness and unity. They despise theft and corruption just like the people do. This group of leaders is not one of multi-millionaires and billionaires despite spending quite enough time running governmental offices.
In just four months with the new leadership at the helm, Ethiopia has come a long way in building unity, widening the political platform, protecting human rights and forging economic integration with neighboring countries. Ethiopian armed opposition groups have put their arms down and joined the reconciliation process while political parties based abroad have expressed their support for the rapid change engulfing the country. Ethiopians now sense the prospect of lasting peace, unity, development and prosperity.
Foreign studies have apparently showed that Ethiopians are very happy these days. On his “demolishing the wall and building a bridge” trip to the U.S.A, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) spoke of foreigners expressing their desire to invest in Ethiopia as Ethiopians are very happy nowadays and thus potentially more productive. While addressing Ethiopians living in the U.S.A., the PM also declared that his main aim is not for Ethiopians to eat three times but to be happy instead even if they eat twice.
It is not wonder that Ethiopians are happier nowadays. The sense of liberation from ethnic entanglement is high and that feeling is complemented by the sense of unity and trust among neighbors. There is also a renewed hope that the future is going to be even better both at social and individual level. Some wonderful news is released in Ethiopia on a daily basis these days. People can’t even cope with the sense of euphoria surrounding them. All these things make them noticeably happy.
Modern day economics and psychology tell us that such conditions are very suitable for advancing economic growth. Economics has also come to research more about happiness as a measure of social prosperity and well-being. A document entitled “The Economics of Happiness” states that income matters to happiness; deprivation and abject poverty in particular are very bad for happiness. That is to say that happiness levels rise as one goes from very low income groups to higher income groups. It, however, argues that after basic needs are met, other factors such as rising aspirations, relative income differences and the security of gains become increasingly important.
It is the rising aspirations sense of it that applies particularly to the present state of Ethiopia. Despite the low level of per capita income in Ethiopia, the prospects of a more democratic, inclusive and popular political sphere have given hopes of a better future. The expectations of better social justice, equality and better distribution of resources have raised the hopes of Ethiopians. The strong stand against theft and the revamped sense of public service have also painted a positive picture of the future.
These rising aspirations have their bearings on economic reality in at least three ways. Studies indicate that rising aspirations affect consumption and saving trends. The honeymoon period the new government is enjoying along with the people might prompt people into spending more; thus, reactivating the current dormant state of business in Ethiopia. As the political unrest in the past couple of years dictated unpredictable social and political conditions, people resorted to watch their spending and investment. However, the hope of a better future could prompt them into spending more, raising the cycle of currency flow along the way.
The second scenario emanates from the arguments that a happy work force is more efficient and productive. As a work force, the happiness of Ethiopians is expected to reflect positively on their work. Therefore, it would be rational to expect a more productive economy with the happier Ethiopian work force.
The third positive bearing that happy citizens could have on the Ethiopian economy is that the world smiles along when one smiles. The raised level of happiness and the rising aspirations help draw in investment from abroad. People tend to work with those who have concrete hopes of the times ahead. PM Abiy himself stated that some foreigners expressed to him their desire to invest in Ethiopia as the country is notably happier nowadays.
The present euphoric atmosphere in the country could be vital in the country’s attempt to sustain economic development and instill a system of social welfare. When all the dust settles down, Ethiopia could be smiling its way to economic prosperity.
