Author archives: Owen Barder

Let’s have the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; but give us the courage too to change the things we can. [Continue reading] Give us the courage to change the things we can – the serenity prayer for development

Getting on the bandwagon of identifying lessons from Team GB’s relative success at the 2016 Olympic Games. [Continue reading] What Can International Development Learn From Britain’s Olympic Team?

Thoughts the day after the Brexit referendum. [Continue reading] More in common

The most effective aid donor in the world is probably not who you think it is. [Continue reading] Whose aid is most effective? Are generous donors less effective?

In which I fact check and annotate today’s Vote Leave leaflet [Continue reading] Brexit and Truthiness

Hans Rosling, using ODI data, said that middle income countries get three times as much aid as low income countries, per person in poverty. Actually low income countries get 79% more aid per poor person than middle income countries. [Continue reading] Do middle-income countries really get more aid than low-income countries?

There is good news and bad news in the 2016 Aid Transparency Index, which is published today. [Continue reading] Aid transparency: are we nearly there?

Should the profits on scotch whisky be taxed in Scotland, where it is made, or China where it is sold? And what about Google? [Continue reading] Why taxing global companies is hard

Why cyclists cycle in the middle of the lane. [Continue reading] Share the Road

This isn’t the first time that Bill Gates and the UK government have announced a $3bn plan to eradicate malaria. [Continue reading] Will we be the first generation to eradicate malaria?