ABSTRACT
The G-7 countries have focused their foreign aid attention on Russia, but the real tragedy of economic and social chaos is occurring in Africa. Unfortunately, development economics has long looked at the problem of international poverty from the wrong perspective—studying the causes of poverty rather than prosperity. Foreign assistance has long been a sacred cow, with studies of program effectiveness usually paid for by aid agencies themselves. Many Third World leaders have long blamed their economic difficulties on foreign governments and international economic forces. In the end, it is domestic political leaders who pursue policies that stifle economic incentive, confiscate personal earnings, deter private investment, and oppress their own people, not foreign taxpayers who have contributed tens of billions of dollars internationally year after year, who bear the moral responsibility for international stagnation.
