I thought others might be interested in one of the books I am currently reading. It is called "The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else" by Hernando De Soto.

It is a very fascinating examination of the politics of capital. His charts illustrating the tremendous road that a person in one of the non-western countries faces in establishing "legitimate" housing, land or businesses is very powerful.

He is president of The Instituto Libertad y Democracia (ILD) in Lima, Peru and their website if you're interested and it is at http://www.ild.org.pe/

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001