Economy

Sierra Leone is a very poor nation that has a huge inequality in income distribution. Sierra Leone has great mineral, agriculture, and fishery resources available, the social structure is not well developed. Almost half of the working age population goes into agriculture. Manufacturing is made up of processing of raw materials. Diamond mining represents the biggest source of currency earnings which adds up to be almost half of Sierra Leone's exports. This economy depends greatly on the maintenance of domestic peace and receipt of aid from abroad. There is a poverty reduction and growth facility program that has helped to stabilize the economy. The population below the poverty line is 70.2% (2004 est.). The agriculture products are ones of rice, coffee, palm oil, sheep, pigs, and fish. Major industries are diamond mining, petroleum refining, and small commercial shop repair.

The United States is the most powerful economy in the world. the rush of technology has left those that lack an education at the bottom and with the professional skilled at the top. More and more fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and benefits. Imported oil accounts for 2/3 of U.S. consumption. The U.S. faces higher barriers to enter their rivals home markets then the foreign firms face going into U.S. markets. The 9-11 attacks led to shifts in national resources to the military. In 2007 worldwide there was a marked reduction in the value and status of the dollar. The unemployment rate is 4.6%(2007 est.). The agricultural products are ones of wheat, corn, fruits, beef, pork and dairy products.

Comparing the two, Sierra Leone is a poor nation, while the U.S. is very powerful. The unemployment rate is very low in the U.S. while in Sierra Leone it is very high. They both have products such as, poultry and fish.

References: Info Please, "Economy", September 29th ,2008.