Article of the Week- The Politically Incorrect Guide to Ending Poverty

This is a VERY interesting article that most people in conventional circles (DOD, STATE, AID) will most likely immediately dismiss.  However revolutionary, incendiary or controversial Paul Romer's ideas may be, they are ones which merit robust discussion at all levels.  For even though his ideas may never be fully adopted or supported by the "Big 3", digressions or offshoots or 'indirect support' of these ideas could certainly be KEY to Africa (specifically West Africa)'s success. 

*One example could be building pre-conditions which would enable select African countries (or more likely recognized economic groups) to forgo tariffs and taxes or building other incentives to leverage progress and cooperation. 
*Another example might be if a charter city was created along with a coast guard. This could incentivise the sponsor country(ies) to create a training center for operation and maintenance and the infrastructure of charter city itself could attack many of the problems which plauge many west african country- namely sustaining and maintaining the equipment once they receive it.
*Thoughts, opinions?
*BONUS QUESTION:  What caused the decline of the Hanseatic league

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2010/07/the-politically-incorrect-guide-to-ending-poverty/8134/