Kristof's Plan For World Poverty

Some philanthropists seek to flood as much money as possible into struggling regions such as Africa, while others argue that the influx of Western cash does more harm than good, often ending up in the hands of corrupt local officials. Nicholas Kristof’s latest column advocates a practical third-way approach by focusing on just two main strategies: de-worming children, and bribing parents to keep their kids’ school attendance up. “Trade is usually preferable to aid,” Kristof writes, meaning that businesses such as textile factories could provide a huge boon to developing areas. Kristof’s piece ends on a hopeful note, concluding that in spite of the conflicts among activists, aid to Africa now has more potential than ever before.