The UK's Lammy has called for reparations for former colonies in the West Indies. Here's why

David Lammy , the UK ’s Foreign Secretary, has lent his voice to the growing call for reparations for former colonies in the British West Indies .

Lipton Matthews argues that foreign aid has been unable to foster sustainable growth in developing countries.

He says market-oriented reforms and investments in human capital that facilitate technological adoption are more effective means of economic transformation.

Haiti provides another cautionary tale of how foreign aid fails to create sustainable development.

The Haitian case epitomizes a broader trend: when aid is given to countries with fragile institutions, it exacerbates existing problems rather than solving them.

Instead of pursuing reparations that mimic the failures of foreign aid, policymakers should focus on pro-market reforms that empower their populations.