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Sind Nichtregierungsorganisationen die besseren Entwicklungshelfer?

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  • Peter Nunnenkamp
  • Rainer Thiele

Abstract

Non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) are widely expected to provide better targeted aid than state agencies with a hidden agenda of commercial and political self‐interest. However, principal‐agent models question that NGOs decide autonomously on aid allocation. Summarizing the results of four new empirical studies, we show that NGO aid indeed offers no panacea: The focus of NGOs on the neediest recipients turns out to be surprisingly weak. The striking similarities across these studies suggest that poor targeting is not limited to NGO aid of a particular type or from specific sources. NGOs hardly make use of the perceived comparative advantage of working in “difficult environments.” Rather, they are strongly inclined to follow the herd of other NGOs and mimic the allocation behavior of state agencies, especially if they depend on public co‐financing.

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  • Peter Nunnenkamp & Rainer Thiele, 2009. "Sind Nichtregierungsorganisationen die besseren Entwicklungshelfer?," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 10(3), pages 266-289, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:perwir:v:10:y:2009:i:3:p:266-289
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2516.2009.00309.x
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    3. Nunnenkamp, Peter & Weingarth, Janina & Weisser, Johannes, 2009. "Is NGO aid not so different after all? Comparing the allocation of Swiss aid by private and official donors," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 422-438, December.
    4. Jean‐Claude Berthélemy, 2006. "Bilateral Donors’ Interest vs. Recipients’ Development Motives in Aid Allocation: Do All Donors Behave the Same?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(2), pages 179-194, May.
    5. Axel Dreher & Peter Nunnenkamp & Hannes Öhler & Johannes Weisser, 2009. "Acting Autonomously or Mimicking the State and Peers? A Panel Tobit Analysis of Financial Dependence and Aid Allocation by Swiss NGOs," CESifo Working Paper Series 2617, CESifo.
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    JEL classification:

    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid

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