1. “No-strings giving” is transforming philanthropy
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/01/10/no-strings-giving-is-transforming-philanthropy
“No-strings giving” is transforming philanthropy
The rich can donate their money quickly and wisely
www.economist.com
No-strings giving may not be for everyone: there will always be donors who want to roll up their sleeves and get involved. But the new generation of donors shows that money can be spent both quickly and wisely. Philanthropy can be as simple as signing on the dotted line.
*
Donors ran lengthy application processes, provided funds that were ring-fenced for specific uses and enforced painstaking reporting requirements. In 2006 The Economist called it “philanthrocapitalism”.
Plenty of money is being earmarked for do-goodery. But it is not getting to worthy causes fast enough.
2. Can India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia be the next great economies?
Can India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia be the next great economies?
Several countries are making bold—and risky—bets on growth
www.economist.com
The rich world’s new-found zeal for protectionism may make it tempting for poorer countries to follow suit. Yet floods of cash and shelter from foreign competition make it impossible to know whether a government’s development gambles are paying off. A bet on one technology could go wrong if others emerge.
The stakes are high. The developing world is home to over 6bn people and some of the most fragile democracies. Getting growth wrong would keep such places poorer for longer. That would be not just a human tragedy, but also a potential source of political instability. To avert it, the developing world needs to be bold—and resist the urge to build walls around itself.