Since WWII the United States has led the developed world disbursements of foreign aid almost every year.
● In 2012, the United States send $37,680,000,000 dollars overseas for foreign aid
A few reasons:
■ National Security
● Counter-Terrorism focus since 2001
■ Commercial Interests
● Think of it as an investment
■ Humanitarian Concerns
● Less suffering makes a better world
What are the objectives?
Peace and Security
● $10,594,000,000 of the budget
○ Specific areas include
■ Counter-Terrorism
■ Stabilization/Security Sector Reform
■ Counter-narcotics
Investing in People
● $10,559,000,000 of the budget
○ Specific areas include
■ Health
■ Education
■ Social Services/Protection of Vulnerable
Governing Justly & Democratically
● $2,596,000,000
○ Rule of Law & Human Rights
○ Civil Society
○ Good Governance
Promoting Economic Growth
● $4,405,000,000
○ Agriculture
○ Environment
○ Infrastructure
Humanitarian Assistance
● $4,091,000,000
○ Protection, Assistance & Solutions
○ Disaster Readiness
○ Migration Management
Who were the top 5 recipients of foreign aid in 2012?
○ Definitions:
■ Per Capita: How much aid the country is receiving per person
■ Gross Domestic Product (GDP): the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s border, generally per year
■ Gross National Income Per Capita (GNI): the dollar value of a country’s final income in a year, divided by its population
● A good measurement of the standard of living
Top 5 Recipients in 2012
■ Israel
● $3.075 billion
● Per Capita: $388
● GDP: $258.2 billion
● GNI Per Capita: $28,380
■ Afghanistan
● $2.327 billion
● Per Capita: $78
● GDP: $18.03 billion
● GNI Per Capita: $570
■ Pakistan
● $2.102 billion
● Per Capita: $12
● GDP: $231.2 billion
● GNI Per Capita: $1,260
■ Iraq
● $1.683 billion
● Per Capita: $52
● GDP: $210.3 billion
● GNI Per Capita: $5,870
■ Egypt
● $1.557 billion
● Per Capita: $19
● GDP: $257.3 billion
● GNI Per Capita: $3,000
Can we afford to be so generous?
● $37 billion dollars is…
○ 1% of the Total US Budget
■ 20% – Social Security
■ 19% – Defense
■ 15% – income security
■ 13% – medicare
■ 10% – health
■ 6% – net interest
■ 6% – other
■ 4% – education & training
■ 3% – veterans
■ 3% – transportation
■ 1% – foreign aid
Sources:
