Forty years ago, China was poorer than many African countries. Yes, they have money today, but where did that money come from? They built that, they worked very hard to create a situation where they are not dependent on aid.

I believe it’s largely aid. You get the corruption — historically, leaders have stolen the money without penalty — and you get the dependency, which kills entrepreneurship. You also disenfranchise African citizens, because the government is beholden to foreign donors and not accountable to its people.

This is how Dambisa Moyo diagnoses the chief source of Africa's current problems. But what solution does she propose?

Moyo proposes far more radical treatment: a telephone call from every donor nation to every aid-dependent government in Africa, warning that in five years the taps will turn off.

She does not think the West should cut off all contact and trade with Africa, but supports mutually beneficial relationships instead of the soul-crushing model of benefactors and dependents. It works the same way for nations as it does for individuals.

Sure, I can keep giving money to my grandmother every month because she's too old to work, and I might give my uncle a few hundred bricks I have left over from my own house renovations if he needs them because I know he'll repay the favor someday. But if any of my younger cousins want to move to town for work and stay in a spare room at my house, you can be damn sure they'll be paying rent. I expect them to behave as responsible and productive adults, even if they are pretty lazy - actually, especially if they are pretty lazy. Why aren't we demanding responsible and productive behavior from countries as well?