British aid policy: Myths and facts

Abstract

This paper describes and criticizes the realities of current aid policies, and those of the UK government in particular. Too much aid goes on top‐down development projects, allocated with a view to their benefits for companies in the donor countries and to the political climate in the recipients, rather than to social and economic needs. Recommendations for change include writing off the debt burden of the South, and emphasis on more appropriate development projects which can be operated from within the developing countries.

Key Words:

• Appropriate development
• Developing world
• United Kingdom