Criticisms
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 10.5.3
Criticisms of Development Aid
There are criticisms that monetary aid isn't as good as donating skills training, and concerns over the size of the aid budget in some countries.
Monetary aid
- Aid in the form of capital grants and loans is seen to be inappropriate by some – is it better to donate technical assistance and skills training?
- In some countries there are concerns about the size of the aid budget.
- The current aid budget in the UK is over £12 billion and this figure is criticised for being either too much or too little.
Distribution of aid
- There are concerns about the distribution of aid.
- E.g. should India receive a large amount of the UK’s aid when it is an emerging economy?
- Another concern is that too much aid money is being syphoned into the pockets of corrupt officials in receiver countries.
- Development aid is thought to encourage aid dependency rather than economic progress.
Test yourself on Criticisms
What is the current aid budget of the UK?
What country receives a lot of the UK's aid but is an emerging economy?