Wilson Quarterly: Solving the Calculation Problem of Foreign Aid
Michael Chernin, intern in the Office of the Director, President, and CEO at the Wilson Center, discusses foreign aid delivery and the potential need for reform, writing, “There are national security, economic, and humanitarian arguments to be made for revamping how international aid is delivered and assessed. … Bridging the gap between policy and academia on issues of microeconomic incentives, security, and corruption would illuminate why decentralization is the key to effective aid. Before any progress is made, though, donors have to understand that although the ideals underlying foreign assistance are noble, so is a willingness to recognize when parts of a system are not working and adapt” (5/5).