The recession’s storm holds a silver lining for development cooperation, Europe's World, Spring 2009 with Jean-Michel Debrat

Governments’ typical reaction to economic crisis is to help at home and leave others to fend for themselves. But Jean-Michel Debrat of the Agence française de Développement and Simon Maxwell of the UK’s Overseas Development Institute say that giving a hand to poorer countries at this critical point will benefit everyone.

Not only should Europe maintain its development activities, but it should also transform them into an engine for growth. By investing in the less-developed regions around it, Europe would kill three birds with one stone: narrow the gaps that threaten regional stability, gain the international influence that it deserves, and find an adequate economic plan to face crisis................. (see link in title for full article)