AIDS AND ECONOMICS. A curious Washington Post story today begins by suggesting that inflation is the main driver of Zimbabwe's decreased rates of HIV infection, due to men having less disposable income for supporting mistresses and visiting prostitutes. But the article then reports that the biggest drop in infection occurred among women with access to prenatal clinics. And although Zimbabwe's economy certainly crashed under Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabweans interviewed by the Post describe the experience of seeing relatives die as equally if not more powerful than pinched pocketbooks in encouraging them to have sex with fewer partners and protect themselves with condoms. Even when Zimbabwe's economy was "strong" it was still so stunted that selling sex, whether as a prostitute or a kept mistress, was one of a few viable career options for poor women. So while it's fascinating and discouraging that Zimbabwe's neighbors received 10 times more Western aid and didn't experience Zimbabwe's decrease in HIV infection, I think it begs the question, "What kind of aid should we give?" Empowering women through microlending, sexual and prenatal education, and career training is a powerful tool in fighting the AIDS epidemic. --Dana Goldstein
