The market is nothing more than an instrument for realising these preferences; but it is a powerful instrument. 42. 'Recent experience has shown that countries which did this (i.e. which isolated themselves) have suffered stagnation and recession, while the countries which experienced development were those which succeeded in taking part in the general interrelated economic activities at the international level’ (Centesimus annus, 33). 43.
Like other individual development accounts (IDA), this program encourages low-income individuals to save for specific needs by matching the contributions of the account holder. In the case of VIDA, the combined savings can be used for the purchase of a first home, to start a business, or to finance higher education.