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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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Global Prosperity Wonkcast
Archive for July, 2011The Debt Cap Showdown and the Developing World: Liliana Rojas-SuarezJuly 19, 2011Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in Capital Flows/Financial Crisis Tags: Capital Flows/Financial Crisis
Podcast: Play in new window | Download 1 Comment »Prospects for South Sudan, the World’s Newest Nation: Ben LeoJuly 12, 2011Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in Debt Relief, Fragile States, Global Development Tags: Ben Leo, Debt relief, Fragile States, Oil, Sudan
My guest this week is Ben Leo, a CGD research fellow and expert on the economic issues concerning the new nation of South Sudan and its major challenges going forward. Podcast: Play in new window | Download 1 Comment »Hedging Against Hunger: Connie Veillette & Ben LeoJuly 5, 2011Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in Food and Agriculture, Rethinking US Foreign Assistance Tags: Aid reform, Ben Leo, Connie Veillette, Food aid, WFP
Joining me this week to discuss these developments is Connie Veillette, director of CGD’s Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance Program and CGD research fellow Ben Leo. Having closely tracked U.S. and international food aid, both have concluded that reforms in financing, procurement and delivery can help ensure that food aid reaches more people who need it at lower cost. Podcast: Play in new window | Download 2 Comments »
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The American media is abuzz with stories of doom and gloom as tensions mount over stalled efforts to raise the U.S. debt ceiling. Europe, meanwhile, has its own debt woes, with mounting fears that a default in Greece could spill over into Ireland, Portugal and Spain. So far, however, there has been relatively little discussion about what these twin crises would mean for the 5 billion people living in developing countries. Sadly, those with the least influence over the issue could pay the highest price.
On Saturday the world’s newest nation exuberantly celebrated its first independence day. The Republic of South Sudan, an area the size of Texas that is home to eight million people, has finally fulfilled its long-sought goal of freedom and self-determination. Independence however, is just the beginning.
Every year, billions of dollars are spent on food assistance to provide lifesaving sustenance to millions of people. That’s a lot of money, and an important cause, so it was encouraging to learn last week that the United States and the G-20 are starting to seriously scrutinize food aid policy. Recent developments in Washington and Paris show a growing consensus that it’s about time to overhaul outdated approaches to feeding the hungry.
