The book offers a bold account of the decline of the economic supremacy of the West over the past 50 years. In particular, Dambisa Moyo examines how America's flawed decisions and blinkered policy choices around Capital, Labour and Technology - key ingredients for economic growth and success- have resulted in an economic and geo-political seesaw that is now poised to tip in favour of the emerging world.

Dead Aid offers proposals for developing countries to finance development, instead of relying on foreign aid. Moyo has stated that her arguments are based on those made by pro-market economists like Peter Bauer (to whom the book is dedicated) and, later, William Easterly.