Foreign aid

Patrick Barron of West Chester, who writes an occasional economics column for "The Kennett Paper," had a letter to the editor published in a paper with a somewhat larger audience: the Dec. 4/5 edition of the "Wall Street Journal." In response to articles by Bill Gates and Matt Ridley about how best to encourage growth in Africa, Mr. Barron wrote in part:

"Africa needs capitalism. Mr. Gates can help most by building Microsoft plants and offices there, employing Africans in the digital economy and training them in the methods of successful business."

You can read more of Mr. Barron's thoughts on economics at his blog, http://patrickbarron.blogspot.com/