Moyo explains her critic using a hypothetical critique. According to Moyo, Aid is malignant, and the problem in African economy since over 1 trillion has been pumped in the continent, and there is little to show for it. She says that aid has not efficiently enhanced economic development in Africa. The outcome for the less well-informed reader is that they are stuck with several “easy to familiarize memorable case studies” which show that aid leads to poverty although she never says as much. I mention “show causality” since Moyo never applies the word “cause” however, the reader is left with an impression that this is what she is implying. My main criticism of her is that Moy applies statistics that reveal a correlation between a high level of aid receipts and poor economic development and then tries to show causality, aid leading to reduced development, by applying hypothetical, anecdotal, highly selective and even emotive evidence to back up her case. Moyo argues that aid has demonstrably failed, it has contributed to poverty and that there are other, more efficient means of accelerating development in Africa. The book has failed in its trial to offer a radical critique of aid since the author’s unwillingness to conduct it within the framework of political economy. I can say that her argument and application of evidence are at best lazy and at worst untrue.

Unfortunately, it is disappointing since the book is about some essential questions, but it is making no useful contribution to the debate. The book, “Dead Aid”, by Dambisa Moyo is supposed to be exciting as well as challenging considering her education and experience as a worker in World Bank.

Dead aid review