What is “development” for?

Abstract

Drawing inspiration from the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope, who went around the streets of Athens carrying a lit lamp in broad daylight claiming to be looking for an honest man, Maman, a comedian and host of a daily satirical slot on Radio France Internationale, recently told a story of a citizen in a fictional African country who went around his country like a tourist with a camera in hand. He was searching for the two digit economic growth which is constantly reported in the media but which he and others in his neighbourhood had never seen. The search was fruitless.