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Showing posts for "Question of the Week"

Question of the Week: Inequality Part II

by Development Channel Staff
People jostle for a fuel dispenser nozzle as a worker fills the tank of a car at a petrol station in Cairo, Egypt, October 3, 2012 (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Courtesy Reuters). People jostle for a fuel dispenser nozzle as a worker fills the tank of a car at a petrol station in Cairo, Egypt, October 3, 2012 (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Courtesy Reuters).

How does inequality affect economic growth?

Question of the Week posts review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Following a recent post on global trends in income inequality, today’s post examines the effect of inequality on economic growth.

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Question of the Week: Inequality

by Development Channel Staff
Clothes are seen hanging outside a bus which has been converted into a dwelling for Lu Changshan and his wife, near newly-constructed residential buildings in Hefei, Anhui province on November 12, 2012 (Jianan Lu/Courtesy Reuters). Clothes are seen hanging outside a bus which has been converted into a dwelling for Lu Changshan and his wife near newly-constructed residential buildings in Hefei, Anhui province in China on November 12, 2012 (Jianan Lu/Courtesy Reuters).

Where is global income inequality headed?  

Question of the Week posts review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Today’s post discusses global trends in income inequality.

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Question of the Week: U.S. Foreign Aid and the Election

by Development Channel Staff
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea on November 30, 2011 (Saul Loeb/Courtesy Reuters). U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea on November 30, 2011 (Saul Loeb/Courtesy Reuters).

What does the election mean for U.S. foreign aid?

Question of the Week posts review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Today’s post explores the prospects for U.S. foreign aid in President Obama’s second term.

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Question of the Week: The Millennium Development Goals Part II

by Development Channel Staff
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon speaks during a closing ceremony of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development summit in Rio de Janeiro on June 22, 2012 (Ueslei Marcelino/Courtesy Reuters). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon speaks during a closing ceremony of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Summit in Rio de Janeiro on June 22, 2012 (Ueslei Marcelino/Courtesy Reuters).

How should the next set of global development goals be chosen?

Question of the Week posts review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Today’s post explores the process to determine what will replace the Millennium Development Goals after 2015.

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Question of the Week: The Millennium Development Goals

by Development Channel Staff
Dusabe Munyarugamba, 16, carries a container of water on her head at Bukima, just north of the eastern Congolese city of Goma, August 19, 2010. Dusabe and her sister Muhawe walk an hour each direction daily to fill containers full of water by descending more than 100 meters into a cave using burning shoots of grass to light their way into the muddy darkness (Finbarr O'Reilly/Courtesy Reuters). Dusabe Munyarugamba, 16, carries a container of water on her head at Bukima, just north of the eastern Congolese city of Goma, August 19, 2010. Dusabe and her sister Muhawe walk an hour each direction daily to fill containers full of water by descending more than 100 meters into a cave using burning shoots of grass to light their way into the muddy darkness (Finbarr O'Reilly/Courtesy Reuters).

What impact have the Millennium Development Goals had, and what should follow them after they expire?

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Question of the Week: Slactivism

by Development Channel Staff
A man looks out of the window of a car which drives under a projection that is part of the non-profit organization Invisible Children's "Kony 2012" viral video campaign, in New York on April 20, 2012 (Keith Bedford/Courtesy Reuters). A man looks out of the window of a car which drives under a projection that is part of the non-profit organization Invisible Children's "Kony 2012" viral video campaign in New York on April 20, 2012 (Keith Bedford/Courtesy Reuters).

Can YouTube and shoes promote development and reduce poverty?

Question of the Week posts review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Today’s post tackles the debate over whether one can positively affect development through online activism and consumer purchases. Read more »

Question of the Week: Are Randomized Controlled Trials a Good Way to Evaluate Development Projects?

by Development Channel Staff
A student sits in her classroom in Sajiloni Primary School in the semi-arid Kajiado County, south of Kenya's capital Nairobi, June 12, 2012. With help from German Agro Action, the school was able to build a sustainable water tank, freeing students from the task of fetching water and allowing them to spend more time on their homework and improving their results, according to a deputy headmaster (Noor Khamis/Courtesy Reuters). A student sits in her classroom in Sajiloni Primary School in the semi-arid Kajiado County, south of Kenya's capital Nairobi, June 12, 2012. With help from German Agro Action, the school was able to build a sustainable water tank, freeing students from the task of fetching water and allowing them to spend more time on their homework and improving their results, according to a deputy headmaster (Noor Khamis/Courtesy Reuters).

Question of the Week posts review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Today’s post tackles the debate over randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which have emerged as an important tool for measuring the success of development interventions.

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Question of the Week: China in Africa Part III

by Development Channel Staff
South African President Jacob Zuma (L) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao before a group photo session for the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing on July 19, 2012 (Andy Wongl/Courtesy Reuters). South African President Jacob Zuma (L) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao before a group photo session for the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing on July 19, 2012 (Andy Wongl/Courtesy Reuters).

This is the third Question of the Week post about Chinese involvement in Africa. Last week, we focused on the debate of whether Africa or China itself benefits more from Chinese aid. The week before that, we discussed the challenges of measuring China’s aid to Africa and the country’s South-South aid philosophy. This week, we look at the benefits and drawbacks of Chinese health aid to Africa.  

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Question of the Week: China in Africa Part II

by Development Channel Staff
China's President Hu Jintao (L) and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete wave to a crowd upon their arrival at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on February 15, 2009 (Courtesy Reuters). China's President Hu Jintao (L) and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete wave to a crowd upon their arrival at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on February 15, 2009 (Courtesy Reuters).

Is Chinese aid and investment a positive force for development in Africa?

This is the second Question of the Week post about Chinese involvement in Africa. Last week, we focused on China’s South-South philosophy and issues involved in measuring its aid and investment. This week, we examine the contentious debate on whether China’s aid benefits Africa and its people—or simply China itself.

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Question of the Week: China in Africa

by Development Channel Staff
A Chinese engineer supervises work at a construction site in Khartoum, Sudan on February 16, 2009 (Mohamed Nureldin Abdallh/Courtesy Reuters). A Chinese engineer supervises work at a construction site in Khartoum, Sudan on February 16, 2009 (Mohamed Nureldin Abdallh/Courtesy Reuters).

The Development Channel is pleased to launch a new feature, Question of the Week. These posts will review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Today’s post is the first in a series on Chinese aid and investment in Africa. This week, we cover the South-South philosophy underlying Chinese involvement on the continent, as well as the measurement issues that make China’s activities difficult to gauge. Next week’s post will tackle the question of who benefits—China or Africa itself. Enjoy the posts and please give us your thoughts on this topic—and other potential Questions of the Week—in the Comments section below. Read more »