Dead Aid

Author: Dambisa Moyo
Stars: 5
Review by: Carolyn from Ringoes

Moyo summarizes the history of international aid from the post-WWII Marshall Plan focused on providing short-term funds for developing infrastructure to current practices of never-ending, unspecified-use grants and concessional loans. She details how this has made African countries dependent on aid as income and provides a "self-help" alternative that harkens to Marshall Plan and microloan notions of aid. Perhaps controversial, Moyo's proposal deserves consideration by anyone considering a charitable contribution to an organization operating in Africa.