On the Relation between Aid, Governance, and Human Flourishing

Abstract

Chapter 11 notes that that there is surprisingly little hard evidence regarding the long-term effectiveness of global aid in promoting social and economic development, and long-term wellbeing. It presents Angus Deaton’s controversial view that Peter Singer, and his followers, have done more harm than good, by promoting the efforts of international aid organizations. According to Deaton, this is because good governance is crucial for social and economic development, and long-term wellbeing, and international aid efforts often undermine good governance in the world’s poorest regions. Chapter 11 also discusses Jeffrey Sachs’s approach to international aid and the Millennium Development Goals. It addresses the mixed success and problematic features of the Millennium Villages Project, and contends that Sachs and his followers have good reason to be concerned about Deaton’s view.