Buzz: A double dip recession and developing countries | Cambodia says ‘no’ to the WB | Do economics blogs make a difference?

Here are the latest stories that have created a buzz or otherwise caught our attention over the last week.

A double dip recession and developing countries

Events in recent weeks have intensified the fears of a double dip recession both in Europe and the US. The Centre for Global Development hosted a Q&A with Liliana Rojas-Suarez to discuss the impacts of the potential recession upon development. The East Asia Forum also posted a sobering piece by Barry Eichengreen on the potential impact of a new financial crisis on developing countries.

The Famine in Africa

The UN has now estimated that $2.5 billion is needed for the humanitarian response in the Horn of Africa, which is now being called the worst drought in 60 years. The Guardian is continuing its live data feed of which countries have donated funds so far – and where the money is going, here. Will Ross discusses on BBC News whether the food crisis in Kenya was avoidable. Megan OHearn, on the ONE blog, discusses how the famine has exacerbated already bleak health conditions. Signaling the ongoing difficulty of delivering food aid to most of the impacted region, the Somali Government has called for the creation of a new force to protect food aid convoys. To make a donation, head here or here.

Poverty in Numbers: Bangladesh tackling poverty head on

According to the latest Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (2010, available here [pdf]), and reported on here by the World Bank, the number of Bangladeshis living in poverty has decreased by 8.5%, from 40 to 31.5%, between 2005 and 2010.

Cambodia says ‘no’ to World Bank funds

The World Bank has frozen new loans to Cambodia in protest over a controversial real estate project that is displacing thousands of poor residents in the nation’s capital. According to Che de los Reyes, writing here for Devex, several donors have also threatened to withdraw aid because of the growing cases of forced evictions. This has not seemed to phase Cambodia, who now have massive no-strings-attached pledges of aid and investment from China (and other non-traditional donors).

Capturing technology for development – The World Bank’s performance with information and communication technologies

A new study released this week by the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank shows that the WB was effective in promoting sector reforms in information and communication technologies and in promoting access through private investments for mobile telephony in difficult environments (see press release here).

Fighting Tetanus. The ‘1 pack = 1 vaccine’ campaign 6 years on

Writing for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gary Darmstadt and Nada Dugas discuss the unusual teaming up of Pampers (one of the world’s largest baby product and advice companies) and UNICEF 6 years ago to form the ‘1 pack = 1 vaccine’ campaign to combat Tetanus in the developing world. The campaigns achievements speak of its success. The “1 pack = 1 vaccine” campaign has raised funds for 300 million doses of tetanus toxoid vaccines, protecting 100 million vulnerable mothers and their babies from tetanus. This year Uganda became the latest developing country to eliminate tetanus with the help of the campaign. Campaigns like this are inspiring other innovative new partnerships, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation teaming up with Proctor and Gamble to fight malnutrition.

PNG politics and their new Prime Minister: Peter O’Neill

Following on from last week’s buzz, there has been some more extensive commentary on the developments in PNG this week. Bill Standish, in a blog for the East Asia Forum, discusses in greater detail Prime Minister O’Neill’s rise up the ranks in the past twelve months and provides further insight into the new leader’s background. Jon Fraenkel has provided commentary of the last few weeks events for The Economist (see here and here). PNG Gossip also provides a list of the new Cabinet Ministers.

The Crawford Fund Annual Development Conference for Agriculture

The 3 day Crawford fund sponsored conference wraps up in Canberra today, with notable guest speakers including Haruhiko Kuroda, President of the ADB. For more information about the proceedings, head here.

Do Economic blogs make a difference?

The short answer: Massively. In a running analysis for the World Bank, David McKenzie and Berk Özler analyse the impact of economic blogs on the dissemination (more formally here [pdf]) and influence of research papers.

We value your feedback

At the Development Policy Centre, we live and breath development policy, following and contributing to ongoing debates. We want to share more of what we’re reading with you and would welcome your feedback on your interests. This blog post contains a cross-section of topics – let us know what you think. What’s creating a buzz for you?

 

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