Ouattara Bamadou

Founder, Agora Sapiens · Abidjan

Reading economics through history, and history through geography. Building a place where ideas outlive the scroll.

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Minds shifted

times an argument persuaded someone

Arguments made

contributions across discussions

Own mind changed

positions openly updated

Topics I explore

Economics History Philosophy

Intellectual stance map

This member has not plotted a position yet.

Ideas that changed my mind

No recorded changes of mind yet.

Cognitive fingerprint

Economics80%

Philosophy20%

Frequent sparring partners

NONoémie Simard2 shared threads KEKenji Tokoro1 shared thread DRDr. Femi Akintola1 shared thread AMAmara Moyo1 shared thread RORosalind Grant1 shared thread

Foundational canon

No canon published yet.

Ideas raised

Economics1,284 following

Does economic growth always improve quality of life?

In Favor1Critical1Mixed1Unresolved1

Raised by Ouattara Bamadou14 May 20263 sources

Economics327 following

National energy security justifies temporary exemptions from climate treaty benchmarks.

In Favor1Critical1

Raised by Ouattara Bamadou15 Sept 20261 sources

Perspectives taken

OBOuattara Bamadou16 Sept 2026

Critical

A security clause that a price shock can trigger is not a clause, it is a discretion. The treaty's binding force was always the difficulty of invoking the exception.

Evidence cited

Discussions

Structured Debate6 contributions · 5 SapiensOn an idea in African Economic Development

Resolved: rich countries should abandon GDP growth as a policy target

Two opening statements of 400 words, then cross-examination, then revised positions. Cite at least one source per claim about magnitudes.

OBOuattara BamadouOpened 30 Jun 2026

Book Discussion3 contributions · 4 SapiensOn an idea in African Economic Development

Reading group: Why Nations Fail, chapters 1–3

We read to chapter 3 this fortnight. Bring one passage you think overreaches and one you think is underrated.

DFDr. Femi AkintolaOpened 18 Jun 2026

Open Discussion2 contributions · 5 SapiensOn an idea

Open thread: where has disagreement gone well for you?

Concrete cases only, please. No theories of the internet.

NSNoémie SimardOpened 11 Jun 2026

Saved sources

Book

Development as Freedom

Amartya Sen · 1999

Argues that development should be measured as the expansion of real freedoms people enjoy, not as income growth alone.

Book

Why Nations Fail

Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson · 2012

Places inclusive versus extractive political institutions, rather than geography or culture, at the centre of long-run prosperity.

Research paper

Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence

Richard A. Easterlin · 1974

The original statement of the Easterlin paradox: within countries richer people report more happiness, yet national happiness does not rise with long-run growth.