WRITTEN ON August 13th, 2006 BY William Heath AND STORED IN Uncategorized
The Center for Global Development (CGD) has done a report on which rich country does most to help the poor, reports the BBC.
It…examines several policy areas – such as trade investment migration and environment – while aid is measured not only in terms of quantity but as a share of its income and the quality of aid given.While the Netherlands led the pack on generous investment and aid as well as measures to curb greenhouse gases, the CGD added they could work harder.
By contrast Japan ranked in last place due to a combination of factors including its low aid and high barriers to imports and migrants from poorer nations.
You score negative marks for exporting arms to unstable regimes, which is why the UK is marked down. The “top 10″ runs
Netherlands
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
New Zealand
Australia
Finland
Austria
Germany
Canada
A couple of points:
1. If the “colonial powers” were able to “exploit the wealth” of their colonies: Why have those same colonies become so poor after independence?
2. Have the many decades of UN, institutional and NGO aid programs actually helped the ordinary people or have they just increased dependency and suffering?
Following the Tsunami, some major infrastructure projects obviously needed help from governments or large NGOs. However, individuals and small groups were much better at providing rapid help and the practical help which allowed people to re-start their lives. Large NGOs were given masses of money but quickly gained poor reputations for delays and waste etc.