Collier’s words present a challenge to the status quo of foreign aid. Nevertheless, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has had its share of successes and failures in Latin America throughout the years. Collier sheds light into a bureaucratic issue that might be preventing a more effective way of managing foreign aid in the continent.
The absence of economic activity is a primary precursor to conflict in Latin America. When compared to the countries that house “the bottom billion”, Latin American nations are better off economically and enjoy better levels of stability. The continent only includes two of its countries on this list, Haiti and Bolivia. However, it will be a mistake to think of stability in Latin America …show more content…
That is, micro-economic activity by the poorest in society can prevent conflict and provide a scalable model to macro-economic programs, there is enough capital to kick start such activity if the Department of Defense (DoD) assets with the best disposition to access otherwise inaccessible locations is leveraged to reduce the cost of foreign aid and its effectiveness. Chapter three will answer the question of micro-businesses as a way to prevent conflict. Can a small, neighborhood level business, provide the motivation for males to evade criminal involvement? Can the possibility of small income increases and the pride of ownership prevent families from separating and children from immigrating to the United States? Can these very small, grassroots business be scalable to other neighborhoods, towns, cities or countries? Could such economic activity be the base for the eventual replacement of foreign aid?
Chapter four will address the foreign aid issue and whether funds are reaching the intended recipients. What percentage of every dollar is spent on actual foreign development and what percentage goes to private or Non-Government Organizations tasked with managing such development activities? Are these NGOs and private entities absolutely necessary? Could western businesses be interested in investing and participating in foreign development?
The absence of economic activity is a primary precursor to conflict in Latin America. When compared to the countries that house “the bottom billion”, Latin American nations are better off economically and enjoy better levels of stability. The continent only includes two of its countries on this list, Haiti and Bolivia. However, it will be a mistake to think of stability in Latin America …show more content…
That is, micro-economic activity by the poorest in society can prevent conflict and provide a scalable model to macro-economic programs, there is enough capital to kick start such activity if the Department of Defense (DoD) assets with the best disposition to access otherwise inaccessible locations is leveraged to reduce the cost of foreign aid and its effectiveness. Chapter three will answer the question of micro-businesses as a way to prevent conflict. Can a small, neighborhood level business, provide the motivation for males to evade criminal involvement? Can the possibility of small income increases and the pride of ownership prevent families from separating and children from immigrating to the United States? Can these very small, grassroots business be scalable to other neighborhoods, towns, cities or countries? Could such economic activity be the base for the eventual replacement of foreign aid?
Chapter four will address the foreign aid issue and whether funds are reaching the intended recipients. What percentage of every dollar is spent on actual foreign development and what percentage goes to private or Non-Government Organizations tasked with managing such development activities? Are these NGOs and private entities absolutely necessary? Could western businesses be interested in investing and participating in foreign development?