Comments on: William Easterly versus the World (Bank) http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/06/william-easterley-versus-the-world-bank/ because information can save lives Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:58:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Paul Lawrence http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/06/william-easterley-versus-the-world-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Paul Lawrence Fri, 12 May 2006 09:45:23 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/06/william-easterley-versus-the-world-bank/#comment-85 There is a lot of opinions on the WBG's private sector development blog. Here's one: http://psdblog.worldbank.org/psdblog/2006/04/why_doesnt_aid_.html There is a lot of opinions on the WBG’s private sector development blog. Here’s one:

http://psdblog.worldbank.org/psdblog/2006/04/why_doesnt_aid_.html

]]> By: Paul Currion http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/06/william-easterley-versus-the-world-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Paul Currion Fri, 05 May 2006 03:15:33 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/06/william-easterley-versus-the-world-bank/#comment-64 I think you're right in his analysis, and it strikes me that a lot of his critics have got Easterly wrong on that count. I've got no love for utopian approaches to poverty alleviation, and I look forward to reading the White Mans Burden to see what Easterly constructs in their place. Unfortunately I'm not sure that it's adequate to tear something down if you really don't have anything to put in its place in this particular instance, since it doesn't really offer a solid basis for advocacy, particularly when dealing with the big international organisations. I think you’re right in his analysis, and it strikes me that a lot of his critics have got Easterly wrong on that count. I’ve got no love for utopian approaches to poverty alleviation, and I look forward to reading the White Mans Burden to see what Easterly constructs in their place. Unfortunately I’m not sure that it’s adequate to tear something down if you really don’t have anything to put in its place in this particular instance, since it doesn’t really offer a solid basis for advocacy, particularly when dealing with the big international organisations.

]]> By: Paul Lawrence http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/06/william-easterley-versus-the-world-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Paul Lawrence Tue, 02 May 2006 12:24:20 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/06/william-easterley-versus-the-world-bank/#comment-57 Paul, I am finding the debates around the Easterly/Sachs very thought-provoking. I had been looking for that Post exchange. Thanks!

I am almost finished with Easterly’s White Man’s Burden. I, too, can’t agree with everything, but respect his general position to *not* take a position – “The right plan is to have no plan.” Many of the reviews seem to miss this point and criticize Easterly for being critical with little to offer as an alternative, which he does on purpose, I think, to push the debate and put the so-called “Planners” on the spot. (I do not really like the Searcher/Planner divide since I think all people in this field are part Searcher and part Planner.)

I need to re-read a few sections and I may be wrong, but I do not think he is saying evaluation is an end goal, but rather part of a cycle that needs to be acted upon rather than done for the sake of checking boxes.

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