charityjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't really learn anything new...which was why I read it.
rossbm's review against another edition
2.0
Kind of skimmed last 2/3rds. Decent points, but not the most rigorous or well written book. The point about aid causing a disconnect between politicians and citizens is the most poignant - if politicians don't need to rely on income taxes to raise funds, there's less need to obtain consent of citizens and engage them. But book doesn't really make the case that aid is cause of slow growth. As it mentions, maybe there needs to be really, really, high levels of aid to make a difference?
And really, amount of aid transferred and length it has been transferred is drop in ocean compared how long countries were colonized and damage done by slave trade and resource extraction. Wish more had been said about this in book.
Proposed solutions don't seem very good. What exactly does going to bond market accomplish? Other than future defaults? And microfinance has proved to be no panacea. It's good for poor people to have options to allow them to smooth out consumption, but no evidence that microfinance drives economic growth. Best point was about links to China. Opportunity for more innovation with more competition.
And really, amount of aid transferred and length it has been transferred is drop in ocean compared how long countries were colonized and damage done by slave trade and resource extraction. Wish more had been said about this in book.
Proposed solutions don't seem very good. What exactly does going to bond market accomplish? Other than future defaults? And microfinance has proved to be no panacea. It's good for poor people to have options to allow them to smooth out consumption, but no evidence that microfinance drives economic growth. Best point was about links to China. Opportunity for more innovation with more competition.
sammieray's review against another edition
4.0
What an insightful read that challenged my paradigms on humanitarian aid. As a currently serving Peace Corps Volunteer, Dead Aid made me think about development work in a new way. While I don't fully agree with everything Moyo has proposed, I see more and more in my work that aid dependence is not sustainable. Sustainable development, capacity building, and accountability are sorely needed.
ayatamus's review against another edition
5.0
Before this book, I was entirely in the mindset that aid is good, if done efficiently. I even took the giving pledge to donate 10% of my income each year.
Now I am skeptical. This book opened my eyes to all the ways aid can(has) undermined development and create a further dependence on aid. It’s the latest from my global poverty reading list to suggest creating sustainable jobs as the best way to eradicate poverty. Moyo says the best way to do this is through trade regulation, which I agree.
My only complaint about this book is it doesn’t offer much of a call to action for the every day citizen.
I also want to give Dambisa a shout-out for being the only African or black woman on my global poverty reading list. Why is so much of the literature dominated by western, white men?
Now I am skeptical. This book opened my eyes to all the ways aid can(has) undermined development and create a further dependence on aid. It’s the latest from my global poverty reading list to suggest creating sustainable jobs as the best way to eradicate poverty. Moyo says the best way to do this is through trade regulation, which I agree.
My only complaint about this book is it doesn’t offer much of a call to action for the every day citizen.
I also want to give Dambisa a shout-out for being the only African or black woman on my global poverty reading list. Why is so much of the literature dominated by western, white men?
n_nazir's review against another edition
3.0
A little dry at times (written by an economist about economics - not sure what else I could have expected...) but makes some interesting points. Makes for some uncomfortable reading at times (e.g. should democracy be a focus - is it better to have a dictator who can push through much needed reforms without any fuss or a stumbling democracy plagued by infighting which never addresses the problem?) but it's good to have an African voice part of the debate. Great point made in the book about the hijacking of the agenda in Africa by well meaning pop stars.
Not sure I would get behind all the points made in the book, but a great starting point to start understanding some of the issues.
Not sure I would get behind all the points made in the book, but a great starting point to start understanding some of the issues.
ashem77's review against another edition
4.0
Microfinancing and conditional cash transfers = living out O for the P - you heard it from me on Goodreads, first!! Looking forward to re-reading this someday after some more personal learning in economics; I would appreciate an updated version of this book again someday as well.
isabelromero's review against another edition
4.0
First, I love any book already when I get to any Sachs criticism. Second, the resolves that Moyo come to are solid and I would love to pick her brain as a follow up to the research done for this book, considering it’s a bit outdated. Especially considering increased US agricultural embargoes that affected Africa during Pres. Trump and China’s conditional FDI growth. Sad to say that most development research done in a case study manner like this book all end in a similar conclusion; lack of political will. A troubling and endless puzzle to global development.
booksbecreads's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting look at the impact aid had on local economies and countries. I would have liked to hear more of the authors opinion on humanitarian or crisis aid as she specifically separated these.