Haiti: The Danger of Over Generosity

My latest CNN column reviews the history of aid after the 2004 tsunami and warns: Don't send Haiti too much money.

My latest CNN column reviews the history of aid after the 2004 tsunami and warns: Don't send Haiti too much money. As the International Federation of Red Cross Societies said in their after-action assessment:

Without knowing who was doing what and where, some communities were overwhelmed with aid while others were neglected.

At the root of coordination problems was one key factor: too much money. Nearly everyone could hire a helicopter or boat, make their own needs assessments and distributions, and 'fly the flag'. ...

Read the whole thing here.