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Aid and Debt Relief in Africa: Have They Been Substitutes or Complements?

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  • Powell, Robert
  • Bird, Graham

Abstract

Summary Much attention has been paid to helping economies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The conventional instruments for providing assistance have been foreign aid disbursements and debt relief. But have debt relief initiatives complemented or substituted for other aid? Has debt relief been additional? This paper examines the evolving relationship between debt relief and other foreign aid in SSA using recently constructed and improved data. Estimating a model of aid allocation for 42 SSA countries using panel data for 1988-2006, it finds that the relationships between debt, debt relief, aid, and resource transfers have changed over time. This paper interprets how policy changes may have modified the underlying relationship between aid and debt relief.

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  • Powell, Robert & Bird, Graham, 2010. "Aid and Debt Relief in Africa: Have They Been Substitutes or Complements?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 219-227, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:38:y:2010:i:3:p:219-227
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    1. Marin Ferry & Marc Raffinot, 2019. "Curse or Blessing? Has the Impact of Debt Relief Lived up to Expectations? A Review of the Effects of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiatives for Low-Income Countries," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(9), pages 1867-1891, September.
    2. Danny Cassimon & Dennis Essers & Karel Verbeke, 2015. "What to do after the clean slate? Post-relief public debt sustainability and management," BeFinD Working Papers 0103, University of Namur, Department of Economics.
    3. Stubbs, Thomas H. & Kentikelenis, Alexander E. & King, Lawrence P., 2016. "Catalyzing Aid? The IMF and Donor Behavior in Aid Allocation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 511-528.
    4. Marin Ferry, 2021. "Quel bilan tirer des initiatives d'annulation de la dette des pays pauvres très endettés ?," Revue d'économie financière, Association d'économie financière, vol. 0(1), pages 225-240.
    5. Jana Brandt & Markus Jorra, 2012. "Aid Withdrawal as Punishment for Defaulting Sovereigns? An Empirical Analysis," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201220, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    6. Marson, Marta & Savin, Ivan, 2022. "Complementary or adverse? Comparing development results of official funding from China and traditional donors in Africa," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 189-206.
    7. Marchesi, Silvia & Missale, Alessandro, 2013. "Did High Debts Distort Loan and Grant Allocation to IDA Countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 44-62.
    8. Marine De Talancé & Marin Ferry & Miguel Niño-Zarazùa, 2019. "Did Debt Relief Initiatives help to reach the MDGs? A Focus on Primary Education," Erudite Working Paper 2019-23, Erudite.
    9. repec:nam:befdwp:3 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. King, Alan & Ramlogan-Dobson, Carlyn, 2015. "Is Africa Actually Developing?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 598-613.
    11. Chiara Del Bo & Massimo Florio & Silvia Vignetti & Emanuela Sirtori, 2011. "Additionality and regional development: are EU Structural Funds complements or substitutes of national Public Finance?," Working Papers 201101, CSIL Centre for Industrial Studies.

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