On the television today (BBC World), I discussed UK finance minister Gordon Brown’s latest announcements on helping Africa, calling for a modern-day Marshall Plan. I was critical of his call for huge increases in aid, pointing out that between 1960 and 1997, Africa received the equivalent of six Marshall Plans of foreign aid. I was also critical of the way the government is ignoring the UN International Year of Microcredit. Providing start-up capital to small business in Africa provides a much more effective approach to sustainable development in Africa than top-down aid.
Tags: Gordon Brown, marshall plan, microcredit, microfinanceGordon Brown’s call for a Marshall Plan for Africa
On the television today (BBC World), I discussed UK finance minister Gordon Brown’s latest announcements on helping Africa, calling for a modern-day Marshall Plan. I was critical of his call for huge increases in aid, pointing out that between 1960 and 1997, Africa received the equivalent of six Marshall Plans of foreign aid. I was also [...]