Poverty
World's approach to foreign aid requires change
IPN Opinion article
Doubling aid money will not raise the long-term prospects of poverty-stricken nations unless it's used wisely and efficiently. A recent study by the International Policy Network finds that foreign aid has, in fact, historically been counterproductive, crowding out private sector investments, undermining democracy, enabling despots to continue with oppressive policies and perpetuating poverty.
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.
Economic growth saves lives
IPN Opinion article
This week's tsunami tragedy in Asia has the world's attention - but every week in 2005, over 120,000 people will die from the side effects of poverty. All of these deaths, and many caused by the tsunami, could be prevented but for the anti-growth, anti-technology policies of many governments. Sadly, such policies are also promoted by western environmental groups, to the benefit of no one today nor anyone in the future.
Is the proposed cure for the world's health problems worse than the disease?
IPN Opinion article
Activists' claims that too many resources are being devoted to finding cures for the diseases of the rich at the expense of the poor are both wrong and dangerous. By using this as a spurious justicification to reform the way in which R&D is conducted will have the unintended consequence of stifling the innovation that will provide us with drugs to combat the diseases of the future.
Long-term solutions needed to solve famine, say experts
IPN Press release
Only a combination of better institutions and modern technologies can end hunger and poverty, according to World Food Prize winner.
Smug WTO foes no friends of poor
IPN Opinion article
Anti-free-traders -- including world leaders who refuse to remove trade barriers and who promote environmental policies that sustain famine in poor countries -- should take their children and move to these poor countries. There, living under the laws that they advocate, they would be without credit cards or jobs, sleeping in mud huts, cooking with firewood (from chopped trees), and inhaling indoor smoke -- while dealing with corrupt dictators and excessive regulation from their own government.
Coupled with the escalating tariffs and subsidies applied by the First World, these anti-free-traders would find themselves unable to escape the poverty that we in the poor countries know only too well.
