William Easterley has a new blog entitled Aid Watch. I’m hooked.
William Easterley is a straight shooter. I’m glad to have his book, The White Man’s Burden, on my shelf. The title may be off-putting, but this is a book that anyone interested in financing compassion ought to read. Everywhere people are calling for more international aid, as if doubling or tripling the amount given is the key to changing the world. But listen carefully and you’ll hear decent people asking simple questions like: Why give more money to the same recipients when trillions have already been spent with such dismal results? Could there be a better way? It’s not just middle-aged white men asking; the first time I heard these questions powerfully stated they were coming from a young African scholar (whose link I have long since misplaced).
To be clear, Easterley wants to see money given to help and empower people in need AND he wants it to be used in the best possible ways. Read the book and the blog. You may be ticked off, but you won’t be disappointed.
I have just got a copy of the book, and have started reading it. So far it is a very interesting book.
I actually haven’t finished yet. I stopped at a certain point, and actually just picked it up earlier today. I will write a post, I think, when I’m done. Then I’d like to know what you thought.