Lots of data for global development nerds to chew over. “Final data from OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries showed that ODA flows totalled USD 131.4 billion in 2015, an increase of 6.6% in real terms over 2014. Net ODA as a share of gross national income (GNI) was 0.30%. Most of the increase was due to higher spending on refugees following a surge of asylum seekers in Europe. In-donor refugee costs totalled USD 12.1 billion, or 9.2% of total ODA. If refugee costs are excluded, net ODA still grew by 1.3% in real terms. The final data is little changed from preliminary figures, released in April 2016, giving a 2015 ODA total of USD 131.6 billion, up 6.9% from 2014 in real terms. Net ODA has risen steadily in recent years, showing an increase of 82% in real terms since 2000. The largest DAC donors by volume were the US, the UK, Germany, Japan and France. Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK exceeded the United Nations ODA target of 0.7% of GNI. G7 countries provided 72% of total net DAC ODA in 2015, and EU countries 56%. Net ODA disbursements by EU Institutions were USD 13.7 billion, down from USD 16.5 billion in 2014. The largest recipient of ODA in 2015 was Syria, with USD 4.9 billion. The second-largest recipient was Afghanistan with USD 4.3 billion, followed by Pakistan at USD 3.8 billion, and then Ethiopia and India with USD 3.2 billion each. Total net ODA to the least developed countries was USD 43.0 billion, a rise of nearly 8% in real terms from 2014. Total ODA to sub-Saharan Africa was USD 42.8 billion, up 6.3% in real terms from 2014.” (OECD http://bit.ly/2iJrv2n)
Gas Price Protests in Mexico…”Demonstrators have blockaded highways, looted shops and forced service stations across Mexico to close in a wave of angry protest triggered by a hike of more than 20% in the government-set price of gasoline. The announcement of the price increase came on 1 January – when long queues of cars were already forming at pumps because national oil giant Pemex was unable to supply all gas stations due to problems with oil refining and fuel shortages caused by theft. The so-called gasolinazo – as the price hike is known – added insult to injury, and since then, protests have spiraled. Truckers, taxi drivers and irate individuals have blocked the main highways into Mexico City and major thoroughfares in the capital, prompting bus lines to cancel service.” (Guardian http://bit.ly/2iJt4gK)
Stat of the day: Insurers paid out around $50 billion for natural disaster claims last year, almost double 2015’s payout of $27 billion, reinsurer Munich Re said in its annual natural catastrophe review on Wednesday. (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2j5s579)