Hirschman

Question 1

Hirschman message:

Answer 1

The hiding hand that hides our ignorance about projects and thereby gives us the needed confidence to embark into risky projects.

Question 2

Hirschman’s ambition:

Answer 2

To understand the potential impact of countries in the development of a country.

Question 3

Hiding hand.

Why do we need it?

Answer 3

Hides our ignorance, and thereby:

Helps to commit to daring projects.

Helps to imagine desirable future outcomes.

We need the hiding hand: “Mankind always takes up only such problems it thinks it can sove” (p. 13).

Question 4

What is the boundary condition for the hiding hand?

Answer 4

Challenges can not appear too early in the project. We need to be commited enough to keep going.

Question 5

Techniques to help hiding hand to work:

Answer 5

Pseudo-imitation: pretend the project is nothing but a straightforward application of well-known techniques that has been used before. Project appears less difficulty-ridden than they really are.

Pseudo-comprehensive-program: (NTS: What is it?) Gives the project planners the illusion that they are in possession of far more insight into the difficulties than is as yet available.

Question 6

Limitations of the hiding hand:

Answer 6

Chances of errors and disasters are large.

Technique is meant to be temporary (in the beginning), but might prevail for long.

Question 7

What is the real disaster that the hiding hand tries to mitigate according to Hirschman?

Answer 7

A missed opportunity for development.