Debt Forgiveness and Poverty Reduction: Some Thoughts from a Skeptical Supporter

Faith and Economics, 2000

Posted: 21 May 2011

See all articles by Christopher B. Barrett

Christopher B. Barrett

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management

Date Written: 2000

Abstract

In the previous article, Stephen Smith offers thoughtful arguments as to why “Christian teaching offers no support for unconditional debt forgiveness,” but rather supports “highly conditioned, prudentially-managed debt forgiveness.” In the brief thoughts that follow, I fully endorse Stephen’s core point, even as I disagree with him on some details of second-order importance. As appealing as the idea of debt forgiveness may be to the Christian - indeed to anyone espousing compassion for the poor - the connection between debt forgiveness and poverty reduction is loose at best. As I have argued previously, the case for debt forgiveness for the world’s poorest countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, remains both economically and ethically ambiguous

Suggested Citation

Barrett, Christopher B., Debt Forgiveness and Poverty Reduction: Some Thoughts from a Skeptical Supporter (2000). Faith and Economics, 2000, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1847744

Christopher B. Barrett (Contact Author)

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://aem.cornell.edu/faculty_sites/cbb2/

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