Martin Vander Weyer

Writing off the debts of Third World nations will not necessarily aid their development, Martin Vander Weyer contends in the following viewpoint. He argues that overgenerous debt relief would reward countries that wasted their resources and punish developing nations that have struggled to pay off their debts. Vander Weyer also asserts that private investments are not likely to increase after debt cancellation because developing nations have a poor track record at borrowing money. Vander Weyer is a book reviewer and commentator for the London Telegraph.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What is the ratio of debt payments to foreign aid, according to the author?
2. In Vander Weyer’s view, why should debt relief not be compared with bankruptcy procedures?
3. What approach does the author suggest for debt relief...