"When Helping Hurts" | A Book on Poverty Alleviation

When Helping Hurts - By Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

About the Authors

Steve Corbett
Mr. Steve Corbett is an Assistant Professor of Community Development at Covenant College and serves as a Distance Learning Trainer for the Chalmers Center. Previously, Mr. Corbett served as Director of Field Operations and Training for the Chalmers Center. Prior to coming to Covenant College, Steve worked for Food for the Hungry International (FHI) as the Regional Director for Central and South America for two years. Before assuming these responsibilities, he served as the Director of Staff Training for nine years. In this capacity, he participated in the orientation and training of 1,500 staff working in 25 countries. Mr. Corbett has a B.A. from Covenant College and a M.Ed. in Adult Education from the University of Georgia.

Brian Fikkert
Dr. Brian Fikkert is an Associate Professor of Economics and the founder and Executive Director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. He has been a consultant to the World Bank and is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland—College Park and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.

Chalmers Center for Economic Development
The Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College helps churches to help the poor to help themselves. The methods we use center on the person of Jesus Christ. We believe that He is the only One who can give poor people the dignity, hope, and power they need to restore them to being what God created them to be: workers who can sustain themselves and bring glory to God in the process. The Chalmers Center offers training for both an international context — Africa, Asia, and Latin America — as well as a US/Canada context. This training is available through web-deployed distance learning courses, self-study courses, and week-long training institutes held throughout the world in partnership with churches and ministries. The Chalmers Center is a part of Covenant College — a Christian college emphasizing a liberal arts education — and operates in association with the college's Department of Economics and Community Development.