Dambisa Moyo may very well be the new face for economic growth in Africa, and perhaps one of the most exciting economists today. Since the publication of her book, Dead Aid, in 2009, Moyo has become a sensation in both academic and journalist circles. She has made a wide appearance in the media with appearances on Bill Maher, TED, and FOX Business. Her interviews have appeared in magazines and newspapers such as The Telegraph, The Guardian, and even Runner's World (Dambisa Moyo runs the New York City Marathon annually). Her confident disposition, her intellectual arguments represent a strong critique of commonly held stereotypes; she’s an independent woman, a personable economist and most importantly, a highly educated African. As a result, the global media has quickly been drawn to Moyo and her popularity in both academic and journalism circles has increased drastically.
Born February 2nd, 1969, in Lusaka, Zambia, she went on to study chemistry at the University of Zambia and was able to complete her bachelor's degree at American University on scholarship. After graduating with her Bachelor's, Moyo went on to receive her MBA from American University, an MPA in Economics from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Oxford University. She has worked for both the World Bank and Goldman Sachs and now currently resides on the boards of multiple companies including SABMiller PLC, Lundin Petroleum AB, and Barclays Bank PLC.
"I was born and raised in Zambia in 1969. At the time of my birth, blacks were not issued birth certificates, and that law only changed in 1973. This is an affidavit from the Zambian government. I bring this to you to tell you that in 40 years, I've gone from not being recognized as a human being to standing in front of the illustrious TED crowd today to talk to you about my views" (TED, Is China the New Idol for Emerging Economies).
Moyo's popularity truly skyrocketed with her book, Dead Aid. Published in 2009, it became a New York Times Best Seller and skyrocketed her into international fame. In the book, she argues against the direct country to country aid transfers which she claims are highly destructive to local African economies. Her strong voice fights for a new path for Africa. In the video below, I explain her argument further.
