About this title: A professor of economics pens an informed and excoriating attack on the tragic waste, futility, and hubris of the West's efforts to date to improve the lot of the so-called developing world, and provides constructive suggestions on how to move forward.
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Binding: Paperback
Publisher: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780199226115ISBN:0199226113
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 400 pages. Why the west's efforts to aid the rest have done so much ill and so little good. 38 figures and 9 tables (Paperback) read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780199226115ISBN:0199226113
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 234x156 mm. (400) william easterly, acclaimed author and former economist at the world bank, addresses the problems of extreme poverty and the west's failed attempts to help the poor. while recognising the energy and compassion behind the campaign to make poverty history he argues that grand plans and good intentions are a part of the problem not the solution. (Paperback) read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780143038825ISBN:0143038826
Description: Good. Normal, average shelf-wear. First few pages are slightly starting to come away from book. No markings of any kind. Small business. Personal service. Thanks for looking! : -) read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780143038825ISBN:0143038826
Description: Very good. Paperback. Good Used. Has minor wear and/or markings. SKU: 23877130 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee ISBN: 9780143038825. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781594200373ISBN:1594200378
Description: Good. Book may contain highlighting, underlining, and may have some cover stickering and wear. Orders usually processed in 24 hours. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. read more
Description: New. PLEASE NOTE: All books are promptly shipped from our UK warehouse using Royal Mail International Priority mail. Heavier or more expensive books are shipped with a TRACKING NUMBER. Professional and reliable bookseller (est.1987). We are all aware of the extreme hunger and poverty that afflict the world's poor. We hear the facts, see the images on television, buy the T-shirt and are moved as individuals and governments to dig deep into our pockets. Yet what happens to all this aid? Why ... read more
"Although the writing can be a little irritating at times (like Bush trying to be "man-of-the-people"), the ideas are very important for anyone interested in Africa's development. Describes and analyzes the constant failures of development organizations despite the money upon money thrown into their work. Gives excellent piece-meal suggestions for trying change while attacking the idea that any one method can be the "silver bullet" for attaining better development."
"Easterly's conclusion is controversial because he recommends a market solution to the problem of poverty in Africa. He argues that the best relief efforts are spear-headed by "searchers"--those who work locally to address real needs that emerge through effective systems of feedback. "Planners," on the other hand, develop "big plans" for saving Africa, like buying a million mosquito nets and shipping them to Africa, where they sit in crates in warehouses unused.
Easterly is acerbic, sharp, often hilarious, and dangerous with his criticism. Like other economists, his arguments have a quasi-logical prestige that gets your head bobbing up and down. Perhaps he's too hard on the (often clueless) rich and famous whose crusades draw attention to issues otherwise lost in the media noise. Maybe. But you can't argue with his incredibly rich, supported analyses of the failures of aid organizations to get help where it's needed without making deals with tyrants."
"As with all development books, some of the data here is hotly contested. Shortly after reading this book, I stumbled across a different study of mosquito nets in Africa that reached the opposite conclusion from the study that Easterly cites.
His overarching point seems in general to hold - the solution is to decentralize aid. It's a general economic point that I think most people can get on board with at a basic level. Instead of politicians/bureaucrats picking and choosing specific initiatives, it is often more effective to encourage multiple ideas to compete and then throw support behind ones that work in the field.
Back to the mosquito nets, Easterly doesn't have a problem as long as things are broken down far enough. Free nets may be better than cheap nets in some countries/communities/situations and may be worse sometimes. The key is to most efficiently and quickly determine the proper situation for each strategy."
"Easterly's work is a must read for anyone who is considering how they can lend a hand in the fight against poverty and suffering in the world. to that extent, it is both encouraging and sobering. by drawing a distinction between Planners - those who propose big, utopian projects meant to solve all the worlds problems - and Searchers - those who hit the ground, figure out what is actually going on and what tangibly helps - he creates a framework for assessing the failure of global aid and the little success that have improved people's lives in little ways the world over. Easterly, even though an economist, is quite readable and almost too accessable (points get a tad redundant and illustrations a little to condescending). Overall, a very helpful read. it reminded me of a friends work that fits the mold that Easterly talks about.
Two criticisms: (1)there are points where Easterly is overly reductionist in his analysis and comes off as down right patronizing. Hindsight doesn't give anyone the right to be patronizing. Especially when you worked for one of the organizations you are criticizing. (2) Easterly is wonderful as a development economist. he is less so as a historian."
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