by Dr. Saeed Ahmed
The Shady Economics of International Aid
Arriving in 2025!
Taxpayers in wealthy nations fund a $200 billion international aid and development industry. They believe that these generous contributions are being used wisely to help developing nations strengthen their economies and lift their people out of poverty. International aid agencies present themselves as torchbearers for a better world. However, as Dr. Saeed Ahmed argues, the reality is starkly different.
Basing his arguments on robust economic data from around the world, and on his high-level work at Pakistan’s central bank and the International Monetary Fund, Dr. Ahmed exposes serious problems in the international aid system.
Dr. Ahmed shows that the donor agencies’ programs rarely bring about meaningful or long-lasting changes; rather, many programs are designed to gain leverage over recipient countries’ governments. The imposition of these organizations’ self-serving agendas, he says, merely restricts the freedoms of people in recipient nations, due in part to massive debt burdens. The weight of debt often forces developing countries to raise taxes, which can cause civic strife and violent protests.
The author argues that the international aid system, because it lacks proper accountability measures or success metrics, facilitates endemic corruption, and rampant misallocation and misutilization of money, within recipient nations. Thus, says Dr. Ahmed, international aid usually leaves developing nations in worse condition. As the economic data shows, many developing countries have deteriorated in terms of tax collection, poverty rates, government effectiveness, human development, and access to justice.
Dr. Ahmed calls on taxpayers, policymakers, lawmakers, and leaders of aid organizations to implement major reforms. The Shady Economics of International Aid is a must-read book for anyone who cares about the future of billions of people in developing nations.
About the Author
Dr. Saeed Ahmed has a PhD in economics from Cambridge University. He worked as a chief economist and voting member of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee at the nation’s central bank and then worked as a senior advisor for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board. He has extensive experience working with international aid organizations. Born into a low-income family in rural Pakistan, Dr. Ahmed has a deep compassion for the needs of people in developing nations.
Endorsements
By Professor Paul Kattuman, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK
“In a timely and powerful exposé, Saeed Ahmed reveals how donor agendas perpetuate a cycle of aid dependency and corruption in developing countries. Tracing the path of billions in foreign funds as they distort policies, stifle growth, and exacerbate crises, he uncovers the exploitative underpinnings of ostensibly “helpful” programs—and the vested interests they protect, among both donors and recipients.
Saeed makes it clear that international aid is a broken system desperately in need of reform. With sharp economic analysis and compelling insights, he cuts through misinformation, prompting readers to reevaluate the true impact of foreign assistance. Beyond critiquing the status quo, he offers fresh perspectives on solutions and a practical roadmap for reform. Using Pakistan as a vivid case study, The Shady Economics of International Aid explains how self-reliance, accountability, and institutional integrity can become a reality, providing grounded hope for transformative change.
Saeed’s work will speak to a broad audience—from university students to seasoned professionals—seeking a deeper understanding of real-world economics, international development, and policy reform.”
By Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan
“The Shady Economics of International Aid is a perspective-changing narrative. It is rich in insights, and with subtle and convincing arguments, the book lays bare the many tiring cliches associated with international aid. Saeed Ahmed writes from a life-time career of a developing country technocrat. We must pay heed to his reform agenda, lest the objectives of both the donor and the recipient remain disillusioned.”
By Dr. Salman Ahmed, Global Head of Macro and Strategic Asset Allocation, Fidelity International, London UK
In The Shady Economics of International Aid, Dr. Saeed Ahmed delivers a timely and critical examination of the global aid model and its effectiveness. As the shifting world order prompts a reassessment of US-centric multilateralism—including in the realm of international aid—this book offers a real, and at times painful, perspective on the challenges and inefficiencies of the current system. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of global aid and its far-reaching implications.”
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The Shady Economics of International Aid
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief questions embodied in articles and reviews. For information, contact the publisher.
Published by Upriver Press
ISBN Print Version: 979-8-9906236-6-8
ISBN Ebook: 979-8-9906236-7-5
Cover Design: James Clarke (jclarke.net)