“But, without prudent investment in human capital and infrastructure, East Timor will be unable to compete economically and politically with other regional member states”.

And in the absence of prudent investment continuing to increase at the rate of 3.2 per cent (that is the rate of population increase) there will never be any hope of social and economic progress. The article mentioned population increase in relation to one aspect only - housing affordability. It neglected to mention that population increase impacts upon all aspects of society.

Unless East Timor’s lads get into of the habit of wearing socks (or taking equivalent precautions) to bed then only a super-optimist could have rosy expectations for that troubled nation.