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Does foreign aid really raise per capita income? A time series perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann
  • Axel Dreher
  • Dierk Herzer
  • Stephan Klasen
  • Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso

Abstract

We analyze the relationship between per capita income and foreign aid. We employ annual data and five-year averages and carefully examine the time-series properties of the data. Panel estimations with dynamic feasible generalized least-squares (DFGLS) show that aid generally has an insignificant or minute negative significant impact on per capita income (particularly in highly aid-dependent countries). This holds true for countries with different levels of human development and income, as well as for different regions. We also find that aid has a small positive impact on investment, but a significant negative impact on domestic savings (crowding out) and the real exchange rate (appreciation). JEL classification: F35, O11, C23, C51

Suggested Citation

  • Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann & Axel Dreher & Dierk Herzer & Stephan Klasen & Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso, 2012. "Does foreign aid really raise per capita income? A time series perspective," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 45(1), pages 288-313, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cje:issued:v:45:y:2012:i:1:p:288-313
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2011.01696.x
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation

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