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I also did some rough estimations based on 2B in aid, which the data actually corroborates which is amusing. Anyway, It comes out to about 28% of GDP, and would

I also did some rough estimations based on 2B in aid, which the data actually corroborates which is amusing. Anyway, It comes out to about 28% of GDP, and would be the equivalent to giving every man, woman, and child a one lump payment of 12k. No conclusions drawn. But there is always the problem of dropping that much liquidity in to any economy, no matter developing or rebuilding or both.

dasil003 17y ago
are they dropping liquidity in or food, water and medical supplies?
dschobel 17y ago
This is a classic problem of international aid. In a nutshell, any indicators of progress revert completely when the aid stops flowing in with no lasting infrastructure/education/anything actually getting developed. In short, the countries don't make any lasting progress, but are temporarily propped up and become entirely dependent on the aid. Look at Africa for numerous examples of this phenomenon. Of course, that's only a long term issue, in the short term you should absolutely send in as much food, shelter and medicine as possible.
- stan_rogers 17y ago
  And that long-term foundation is the core of the international aide plan. If there can ever be said to be a silver lining in a cloud such as this, it is this: almost the entirety of the existing infrastructure was destroyed in the quake, and Haiti gets to do it right this time -- buildings that "meet code", city planning that makes some kind of sense, distribution of services that has some correlation to demographic distribution, and so on, all under the eye of international observers who must be present while Haiti, once again, tries to build a police and law enforcement system from scratch. It will cost a mint in foreign generosity to give Haiti the leg up it needs, but it will, at the same time, reduce the need for continual infusions of aide over the long term. (Haiti has certainly never been off of the aide map in Canada; money, material, medical, police and military contributions have been going there pretty much since Baby Doc bit the big one.)
  - dschobel 17y ago
    Agreed. It's been encouraging to hear all the talk about "sustainable aid". I'll be curious how they solve the corruption problems though. If you have international observers on hand, others will scream "colonialism". But honestly, after Haiti was ranked as the most corrupt nation on earth in 2006[1], I don't think there's anyway you give long-term aid without intensive supervision. [1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6120522.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6120522.stm
  - anamax 17y ago
    > Haiti gets to do it right this time What are the odds that it will? > all under the eye of international observers who must be present This isn't the first time that "international observers" have been present. What has happened in the past when they were around? If this time will be different, why? > Haiti has certainly never been off of the aide map in Canada; money, material, medical, police and military contributions have been going there pretty much since Baby Doc bit the big one. That is not encouraging. Canada is pretty good at this stuff and pre-quake Haiti suggests that it wasn't enough.

dasil003 17y ago

are they dropping liquidity in or food, water and medical supplies?

dschobel 17y ago

This is a classic problem of international aid. In a nutshell, any indicators of progress revert completely when the aid stops flowing in with no lasting infrastructure/education/anything actually getting developed. In short, the countries don't make any lasting progress, but are temporarily propped up and become entirely dependent on the aid. Look at Africa for numerous examples of this phenomenon. Of course, that's only a long term issue, in the short term you should absolutely send in as much food, shelter and medicine as possible.

stan_rogers 17y ago
And that long-term foundation is the core of the international aide plan. If there can ever be said to be a silver lining in a cloud such as this, it is this: almost the entirety of the existing infrastructure was destroyed in the quake, and Haiti gets to do it right this time -- buildings that "meet code", city planning that makes some kind of sense, distribution of services that has some correlation to demographic distribution, and so on, all under the eye of international observers who must be present while Haiti, once again, tries to build a police and law enforcement system from scratch. It will cost a mint in foreign generosity to give Haiti the leg up it needs, but it will, at the same time, reduce the need for continual infusions of aide over the long term. (Haiti has certainly never been off of the aide map in Canada; money, material, medical, police and military contributions have been going there pretty much since Baby Doc bit the big one.)
- dschobel 17y ago
  Agreed. It's been encouraging to hear all the talk about "sustainable aid". I'll be curious how they solve the corruption problems though. If you have international observers on hand, others will scream "colonialism". But honestly, after Haiti was ranked as the most corrupt nation on earth in 2006[1], I don't think there's anyway you give long-term aid without intensive supervision. [1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6120522.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6120522.stm
- anamax 17y ago
  > Haiti gets to do it right this time What are the odds that it will? > all under the eye of international observers who must be present This isn't the first time that "international observers" have been present. What has happened in the past when they were around? If this time will be different, why? > Haiti has certainly never been off of the aide map in Canada; money, material, medical, police and military contributions have been going there pretty much since Baby Doc bit the big one. That is not encouraging. Canada is pretty good at this stuff and pre-quake Haiti suggests that it wasn't enough.