Prompt: The Holy Trinity, consisting of the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO, claims to aid in the eradication of poverty in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. For instance, Malawi, one of the most profoundly impoverished nations on our planet, faces complex, multifaceted, and interconnected problems. The statistics are staggering and challenging for those of us living in more affluent countries to comprehend:

Facts about Malawi

• A population of 18.5 million individuals
• 1 million orphans
• Annual gross national income of $650 per person
• Nearly 50% of the population is moderately or severely underweight
• Average age of first birth for mothers: 18
• 85% of the population lives as subsistence farmers
• The average life expectancy is 61
• 10% of the adult population lives with HIV/AIDS.

QUESTION: Do you think that these development agencies genuinely prioritize assisting the impoverished? If so, can you explain why? If not, what are the reasons? What arguments are presented by the IMF, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the poor countries?