In his lecture at Google, William Easterly explained why he thinks that poverty relief efforts have failed so disastrously around the world. For this module's assignment, your job will be to assess the implications of Easterly's view.

(1)What is Easterly's view?

(a)Who does Easterly call the "planners"? Who are the "searchers"?

(b)What is Easterly's main criticism of "planners"?

(c)How does Easterly think that "searchers" can help to solve global poverty?

(2) What are the implications of Easterly's arguments for the positions defended by Peter Singer and Thomas Pogge in the previous modules?

Which premise, if any, of Singer's argument for donating to aid agencies would Easterly reject and why?

[Recall Singer's argument:(1) Severe poverty is seriously bad. (2) If we can prevent something seriously bad without sacrificing something of comparable moral significance, we should.(3) By donating to reputable aid agencies we can prevent severe poverty without sacrificing anything of comparable moral significance.Therefore, (4) we should donate to reputable aid agencies.]

Do you think Easterly would accept any of Pogge's arguments for injustice or his proposals for rectifying injustice? Why or why not?

(3) Finally, what do you think of Easterly's position?Is he correct? Incorrect? Or are you unsure about whether his position is defensible?