Says an Kenyan economist. Bravo, we need to hear more of this. How long has Africa received aid? What is the result? Are there any numbers? Has mortality decreased at all? Has lifespan increased? See also this piece (also from Spiegel).

Juxtapose that with this outcry from Bono at the G8 summit.

Here is a chart showing that unlike Asia and the mideast, Africa mortality remained relatively stable and GDP regressed significantly. Actually, the effect of aid on Africa is a huge issue. By examining this text, there was a four-fold (approx) decrease in child mortality until mid-90s, then a sharp increase. For adult mortality it's been mostly the same since the 70s. So, if our aid is actually doing any good, it should help the average African live longer, due to more food, better health-care, etc. For children this seems to be the case. For adults, not so much. But the text emphasizes that mortality data is very hard to come by, and of somewhat questionable use.

Then there's this:

The Washington Center for Global Development has calculated that $3,521 of development aid would have to be invested per person, in order to increase the per capita yearly income of the target group by $3.65.

So, let's say someone gives me $100 in aid, to say, invest in textbooks to gain education to get a better job. Say there were a million people like me. The net result of $100 of aid would be to increase my yearly salary $1. Does that make sense? That's insane.