Quotation
Solution to Africa’s poverty is empowerment through property ownership and free trade says new IPN study
IPN Press release
Aid and debt relief won't help Africa
IPN Opinion article
Sending billions in aid to Africa is like pouring water "into leaky bowls," says the head of an African pro-market think-tank.
"It is laughable to assume that just writing off poor country debts will stop the inefficiency and corruption," said Franklin Cudjoe, head of Ghana-based Imani, who argues that aid bolsters corrupt governments. Forgiving debts just frees up more money for inefficient pet projects aimed at political popularity, he maintains.
Lesson for UN from the slums
IPN Opinion article
SOME of the poorest parents in the world are paying for their children's education rather than accepting bad, but free, state schooling. Parents strive to educate their children ó and the poor are no exception. But, like many parents in rich countries, African, Indian and Chinese parents have discovered that free education often means failed education. Evidence suggests private education is both cheaper and better, even for the poorest of the poor.
Saving lives with a click of the fingers
IPN Opinion article
A recent high profile campaign by UK NGOs has pressured the UK government, in the context of the upcoming G-8 meeting, to forgive debt, reform trade rules and
But will such measures work? Julian Morris, Director of International Policy Network, said: "The really poor are victims of their own governments. Relieving debt and giving more aid isn't going to help these countries in the long term. The money is too easily syphoned off or wasted on white elephants. We need to encourage better government and real trade with these countries."
Be sure to check out the Global Development Summit on 28 June.
Curse of Unfair Trade
IPN Opinion article
Fredrik Erixon, chief economist of the Swedish think-tank Timbro, argues that Western aid has "largely been counterproductive" for half a century. In a devastating critique of the billions of pounds that have poured into Africa since independence, he said: "It has crowded out private sector investments, undermined democracy and enabled despots to continue with oppressive policies, perpetuating poverty."
