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Category Archives: In the news

From Hell to Prosperity

By William Easterly and Laura Freschi | Published May 18, 2011

A graphic showing striking disparities income among religions in America, from the NYT Magazine:

Bill switched from childhood Methodist to adult Episcopalian in an attempt to boost income. Did that likely work?

Barro and McCleary 2006 argue the relationship goes from income to religiosity (as measured by church attendance, personal prayer, and belief in hell and the afterlife). At least for the Protestant denominations, the ones on the left mostly feature more religiosity…

Also posted in Data and statistics | 19 Comments

Poverty: Is there an app for that?

By Guest Blogger | Published May 17, 2011

by Tate Watkins. Tate is a research associate at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center.

Last week the World Bank issued a announced an upcoming event called Random Hacks of Kindness. Tech developers will gather at locations around the world to try to “create open solutions that can save lives and alleviate suffering.” Random Hacks of Kindness began in 2009 as a partnership between the World Bank, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, and NASA. Its goal…

Also posted in Aid policies and approaches | 21 Comments

Who should be the next IMF chief?

By Laura Freschi | Published May 17, 2011

Even if the serious charges against IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn are proven false, the IMF will likely be in need of a new leader.

According to unwritten agreement, the IMF has always been headed by a European, just as the president of the World Bank has always been American.

Some (mainly Europeans, funnily enough) argue that the IMF needs a European leader now more than ever, because the biggest issues the IMF currently…

11 Comments

Development before security…is a killer

By Laura Freschi | Published May 3, 2011

In an article that just might have been overshadowed by bigger news out of the “AfPak” region Sunday night, the New York Times reported on USAID’s project to build the Gardez-Khost Highway in Afghanistan. This 64-mile stretch of road meant to connect the two mountainous southeastern provinces of Paktia and Khost is shoddily constructed and incomplete after 3 years.

Not least among the problems was that construction began before the region was cleared

…

Also posted in Aid policies and approaches, Military aid | 21 Comments

Qaddafi is right about some things

By William Easterly | Published April 24, 2011

From the collection of his definitive writings:

Women, like men, are human beings….we must understand the natural difference between the two sexes. Women are female and men are male. According to gynaecologists women, unlike men, menstruate each month. (p. 74, M. Al Gathafi, The Green Book, World Center for the Study and Research of the Green Book, 2009 edition)

9 Comments

She’s unemployed, he’s on welfare, benefits being cut, what future?

By William Easterly | Published April 23, 2011

Taken from one of my 3 morning papers today, I forget which one (FT, WSJ, NYT):

Kate and Prince William

5 Comments

An Ignorant Perspective on Libya

By Adam Martin | Published April 21, 2011

Tax time prompts many of us to ponder what our tax dollars pay for. This year I thought, just a bit, about the most recent significant (if still relatively small) addition to the U.S. budget. I came to the conclusion that–for various reasons–I know next to nothing about what is happening or is likely to happen. Men and women in power know much more about the situation than I do, and have…

Also posted in Military aid | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

All Cups, No Tea

By Laura Freschi | Published April 19, 2011

Another humanitarian hero has tumbled off his pedestal.

It remains to be seen whether Greg Mortenson, author of the best-selling “Three Cups of Tea,” will be able to avert a total reputation meltdown. But last Sunday’s 60 Minutes broadcast and a thorough exposé by Jon Krakauer provide convincing evidence for some serious allegations…

Also posted in Accountability and transparency, Aid policies and approaches | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

Nation not part of “Democratic Revolt” international media story presumptuously holds election

By William Easterly | Published April 10, 2011

A nation that does not fit into the media narrative on the Worldwide or Arab-wide Democratic Revolution went ahead and held an election today.

Leading media representatives complained that there was no room for media attention to the historic, pivotal election in the nation of 74 million registered voters. “I mean there are no Arabs in Niger, are there?” said leading journalist Woodscott Tarleton. “We can barely keep up remembering the capitals of all those Arab countries like Iran.”

Voters…

Also posted in Satire and parodies | 16 Comments

Aid Watch Government Shutdown Edition

By William Easterly and Laura Freschi | Published April 7, 2011

UPDATE 12 noon: Comments show today we are in one of those dysfunctional audience relationship posts: we assume you can read our minds, and you assume we are idiots (see end of post).

Here at Aid Watch we are definitely NOT interested in contributing to the partisan diatribe gaining force on BOTH sides of the aisle.  We do wonder if the prospect of the US government shut down (still looming at time…

16 Comments