—Alberto Alesina, Professor of Economics, Harvard University

If donors are serious about using development aid to help people grow out of poverty they should read this book before doing anything else. The evidence presented by the authors shows that aid effectiveness can be vastly improved through simple, but radical, changes in aid policies.

—Professor Jan Willem Gunning, University of Oxford Director, Centre for the Study of African Economies

Assessing Aid is a further stage in the evolution of the World Bank's thinking about development strategy and development assistance. It takes another step away from a narrow, neoclassical world of perfect markets.

—Shigeru Ishikawa, Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University

Assessing Aid makes a compelling case that development assistance can and has worked—when it supports the reforms in policies and governance that are the key to rapid growth and poverty reduction. What a tragedy, then, that much aid continues to be wasted. This refreshingly frank assessment of the World Bank and the larger aid business is essential reading for the policy community dealing with the reform of aid and international institutions.

—Nancy Birdsall, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

A refreshing new analysis of an important topic, written with sophistication, forthrightness, and courage.

—Robert Klitgaard, Ford Distinguished Professor of International Development and Security and Dean, RAND Graduate School