Brookings: Experts - William Easterly

What Works in Development? : Thinking Big and Thinking Small

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What Works in Development? brings together leading experts to address one of the most basic yet vexing issues in development: what do we really know about what works -- and what doesn't -- in fighting global poverty?

The Poor Man's Burden

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Eighty years ago, a depression changed the way we think about poverty. It took decades for the world to recover and to remember that if people are given freedom, they will prosper. In an article in Foreign Policy Magazine, William Easterly reflects on lasting consequences of the original approach of "development economics" and cautions against returning to misguided plans to fight poverty.

Foreign Aid Goes Military!

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

William Easterly reviews Paul Collier's recent book The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It.

Can the West Save Africa?

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a new working paper, William Easterly examines Western efforts to “save Africa” through development policies and interventions. He assesses the performance of aid efforts to date and examines successes and failures.

Development Doesn't Require Big Government

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Reflecting on the current financial crisis, William Easterly discusses how sustainable development does not require the sole action of governments, but also individual entrepreneurs and innovators.

Best and Worst Practices in Foreign Aid

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this new working paper on the best (and worst) practices in foreign aid, Easterly and Pfutze compare 48 bilateral and multilateral aid agencies across five dimensions and rank the agencies according to these criteria of “best practice.”

Trust the Development Experts – All 7 Billion

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The recent report by the Growth Commission addresses critical questions about how developing countries might achieve and sustain high growth rates. In a recent op-ed, Visiting Fellow Bill Easterly discusses why the report represents the final collapse of the “development expert” paradigm while outlining reasons why there is still hope for development.

Is the Brain Drain Good for Africa?

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

William Easterly and Yaw Nyarko discuss the costs and benefits of brain drain for African countries.

Superpower Interventions and Their Consequences for Democracy

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

William Easterly, with co-authors Shanker Satyanath and Daniel Berger, tackle the impact of superpower interventions on democracy, examining the type of effect of the intervention and whether it matters whether the superpower is democratic or authoritarian.

How the Millennium Development Goals Are Unfair to Africa

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In a new Brookings Global working paper, William Easterly analyzes the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and argues that the initial definitions of “success” or “failure” have made attainment of the MGDs less likely in Africa than in other regions.

Foreign Aid: An End to the World's Worst Poverty?

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Scholar William Easterly discusses foreign aid with Fareed Zakaria on his show Foreign Exchange.

Business Bookshelf: Surprised by Opportunity

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Visiting Scholar William Easterly reviews William Duggan's recent book Strategic Intuition: The Creative Spark in Human Achievement.

Don't Bank on the Asian Development Bank

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Given the emergence of Asia as a development success story, William Easterly warns, the Asian Development Bank must change or die.

Are Aid Agencies Improving?

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This working paper by William Easterly shows that the record on aid agencies indicates little evidence of progress in response to political changes, experience or new knowledge.

Was the Wealth of Nations Determined in 1000 B.C.?

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A Working Paper by William Easterly (September 2007)

What Bono Doesn't Say About Africa

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by William Easterly, LATimes.com (07/06/07)