Accidental aid; Rodrik v Oxfam on food prices; Chinese obesity; disability and development; gender and the plough; British happiness and cartoon US-Chinese currency rap battles: links I liked

OK, I know I’m supposed to be taking a break, but I’m still reading stuff, so here’s this week’s round-up of links I liked, best wishes Duncan

The accidental invention of foreign aid 

Does Oxfam always complain about the downside, whether food prices are high or low and if so, is that a problem? Thought-provoking exchange between Dani Rodrik and Oxfam’s Rob Bailey (and kudos to Dani for enabling such a quick right to reply)

Updates on previous blogs: first obesity: China’s diabetes-related medical costs, estimated at 173.4 billion yuan ($26 billion) annually, will skyrocket in 10 to 20 years as 100 million sufferers seek treatment and care for related ailments such as kidney failure, stroke and blindness. [h/t Sophia Murphy]

And more on disability and development: a new overview paper from World Vision

Why do some cultures encourage women to work, while others prefer they stay secluded in the home? It depends on how they farm. Societies with a tradition of plough agriculture tend to believe that the natural place for women is inside the home. Interesting bit of technological determinism c/o Aid Watch

David Cameron plans to make happiness Britain’s new GDP. Right idea, not sure about his timing though

Animated US-China currency rap battle. Fantastic. [h/t Wronging Rights]