Advantages and disadvantages of providing international aid to poor countries Poor countries have been receiving aid from the international community for over a century now. Although such aid should be considered an act of kindness on the part of donor countries or international bodies, it has led to excessive dependence among developing countries. They have adopted the habit of estimating and including international aid in national budgets to reduce the trade deficit. It is believed that foreign aid is necessary for poor nations in order to break the cycle of poverty that binds their citizens in low-productivity areas and therefore their economy will not be weak. However, some critics see extending aid to poor countries as a means of keeping nations in an economic slumber so that they can only wake up by devising ways to promote self-sustainability. Because of these two schools of thought on the topic, debate has arisen as to which side is more rational and factual than the other. The unsustainable nature of international aid, however, leaves the question of what might happen if foreign aid is not available to poor nations. After careful consideration of the effects of assistance to poor countries, it is sufficient to state that providing international aid to poor nations is more disadvantageous than beneficial to the nations. This point is discussed through an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of providing international aid to poor countries, with appropriate examples from various regions of the world to demonstrate this position. International aid fosters economic laziness among poor nations, causing them to stay in the country longer. poverty when they could easily get out of... middle of paper......The New York Times, 2009. Web. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2009 /08/23/magazine /23Women-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0Nixon, R. “Politics: Provisions Could Limit U.S. Food Aid.” The New York Times, 2014. Web. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/us/politics/provision-could-limit-us-food-aid.html?ref =foodaid&version=meter+at+6®ion=FixedCenter&pgtype=article&priority=true&module=RegiWall-Regi&action=clickProvost, C. “Aid continues to benefit companies in donor countries.” The Guardian, 2011. Web. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/sep/07/aid-benefits-donor-countries-companiesSha, A. “Foreign Aid for Development Assistance." Global Issues Organization, 2012. Web. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/foreign-aid-development-assistance