Dave18388

Although America obviously can do more to help, it helps to point out the actual good we are doing - America's annual support to other countries beats out everyone else. We help everyone and we help them a lot more than anyone else. It all comes down to a personal level and I agree that there are numerous questions that arise with the OP that can't be simply answered.

Saltiness

Thanks for the links, DMB.

Dave18388: I know America helps out a great deal already but it would be nice to see something really come of this help... meaning self sufficiency from these countries being helped. I haven't heard of countries being given help and then prospering, but then again maybe I just haven't heard of them or maybe it just can't be expected to happen in a short amount of time.

echidna

Saltiness, I know it'll create a storm of protest from the Left, but IMhonestO, one of the critical paths to economic independence is trade, read globalisation. It's how much of S.E.Asia has risen in economic status over a very short period of time, & maybe isn't pretty for those of us so accustomed to lifestyles of western affluence, but it's a necessary stepping stone towards economy building.

Now, how that globalisation might be conducted is entirely open to debate & I'd possibly add that I'm far from convinced that developing countries should be liberalising their markets entirely. Examples such as Singapore, Malaysia & Japan all suggest that the path might be best achieved through strong subsidy of profitable local industry through significant import tariffs, while doing everything possible to stimulate and encourage local export businesses.

What can western nations do to assist industry in developing countries ? Eliminating dumping & lowering import tariffs is a start. Quoting from Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, "trade not aid".

DMB

America, in comparison with other donor countries, does not devote a very large proportion of its GDP to aid. It is also not particularly strong on social aid.