Comments on: Dambisa Moyo and Dead Aid

By: Mo-ha-med

Mo-ha-med — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:51:01 +0000

Alanna,
You seem to reach the same conclusions – and present them more eloquently – as i have after reading and reviewing the book.

Her recommendations are anything but novel – trade, international markets, saving, remittances – and her one big shiny idea – cut all aid within 5 years – is hasty, illogical, and most importantly very badly defended in the book.

A big disappointment.

By: Alanna

Alanna — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 04:53:39 +0000

Laura, I am writing a blog post about this – it should be up in the next couple days.

By: Chris Watkins

Chris Watkins — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:02:49 +0000

Laura: I’m impressed by what I’ve read of “The Bottom Billion”, Paul Collier. Also interested to hear Alanna’s suggestions.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:22:13 +0000

I’m attempting to gain a better understanding of international aid as it exists now and what its future should be, and thus I came across your blog which I’ve been reading for the last few months. I had heard about Moyo’s new book and considered buying it to read as a possible starting point for diving deeper into the subject, but yours is the second or third negative review I’ve read about it. Could you make some alternative recommendations on authors, books or other publications to pay attention to? It would be much appreciated.

By: Three responses to “Dead Aid” « Tim in Tamale

Three responses to “Dead Aid” « Tim in Tamale — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:39:27 +0000

[...] Blood and milk blog (on aid & development) [...]

By: Annie Heffernan

Annie Heffernan — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:04:10 +0000

I have been following the coverage of Dambisa Moyo for the last little while and waiting for a cogent critique of her viewpoints. Her impressive resume is mentioned frequently without any mention of her experience in the topic she is adressing–aside from, as you mention, the fact that she has “skin in the game”. I also have been unable to read the book, but thanks for a critique of her viewpoints coming from someone who is highly critical of international aid.

By: Chris Watkins

Chris Watkins — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:39:54 +0000

“Why then is she opposed to the World Bank’s support of it?”

“Because the enforced nature of it. ”

That’s a fair reason to oppose it… but it doesn’t seem to explain why these policies, or aid in general, is ineffective.

By: Loomnie

Loomnie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:18:54 +0000

Like you, the only access I have had to Ms. Moyo’s arguments are through reviews of the book and TV appearances. From what I have read and heard I really have not seen any addition to the regular condemnations of aid – save for an impressive CV. True, some things have to go, but she does not seem to have made a clear argument about/against those things. I do not blindly advocate aid, and I don’t think that any serious follower of the aid discourse is either.

Ok, I hold off any more comments until I get a copy of the book.

Rgds,
Loomnie.

By: Alanna

Alanna — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:40:37 +0000

Touche. And if that was the argument she made, I’d accept it. But she doesn’t make an argument. She doesn’t even address the contradiction.

By: Michael Keizer

Michael Keizer — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:34:44 +0000

She attacks the World Bank for making loans that were contingent on free-market policies being adopted. Yet she is in favor of the free market, and argues that it will lift Africa out of poverty. Why then is she opposed to the World Bank’s support of it?

Because the enforced nature of it. A bit like why ART aren't wrong, but forcing people to take them is. (Sorry, could not resist that dig. Hit me over the head with something hard and heavy -- would be my right desserts.)