Zimbabwe's "Invisible" Entrepreneurs

We spend a lot of time talking about the failures of planned economies, but do you ever wonder how they seem to manage to limp along for so long? While authoritarian governments will go to great lengths to control (and subsequently destroy their economies), they have a hard time completely stamping out all market or entrepreneurial activity. Markets are like weeds, and they will find a crack to sprout no matter how thick and oppressive the pavement. This spread of pictures from the BBC chronicles the hard work and many challenges faced by the thousands of small entrepreneurs who shuttle back and forth between Zimbabwe and neighboring countries. Not only do these hardy souls earn a living for themselves, but they provide many of the essential goods that would have otherwise long since disappeared from Zimbabwe. The small entrepreneur is probably the only thing standing between the Zimbabwean economy and total failure. While we should bemoan the conditions in Zimbabwe, we can take heart that no institution – be it a tyrannical government or inept management – can completely extinguish the entrepreneurial spirit. However, while the entrepreneur can still wiggle under the heel of an iron boot, he or she can accomplish much, much more when allowed to roam free.