Peter Bauer and the Failure of Foreign Aid
12 Pages Posted: 7 May 2013
Date Written: September 6, 2009
Abstract
Peter Bauer was one of the greatest development economists in history. He was an advocate of property rights protection and free trade before these ideas became commonplace. He appreciated before others did the crucial roles of entrepreneurship and trade in development. He was also one of the earliest opponents of the overpopulation thesis, recognizing that the poor like the rich should have the right to choose the number of children they have, that many developing countries are underpopulated, and that population growth will anyhow slow down once they become richer. Bauer’s writings are remarkable for their deep humanity and commitment to the welfare of the people in the developing world, but without the fake sanctimony that characterizes much of the modern rhetoric.
Keywords: issues with us foreign aid payments, American foreign aid budget, future of foreign aid, international development issues
JEL Classification: F35, F63, O11
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation