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Aid Effectiveness in Times of Political Change: Lessons from the Post-Communist Transition

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  • Frot, Emmanuel
  • Olofsgård, Anders
  • Berlin, Maria Perrotta

Abstract

We argue that the tilt toward donor interests over recipient needs in aid allocation and practices may be particularly strong in new partnerships. Using the natural experiment of Eastern transition we find that commercial and strategic concerns influenced both aid flows and entry in the first half of the 1990s, but much less so later on. We also find that fractionalization increased and that early aid to the region was particularly volatile, unpredictable and tied. Our results may explain why aid to Iraq and Afghanistan has had little development impact and serves as warning for Burma and Arab Spring regimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Frot, Emmanuel & Olofsgård, Anders & Berlin, Maria Perrotta, 2014. "Aid Effectiveness in Times of Political Change: Lessons from the Post-Communist Transition," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 127-138.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:56:y:2014:i:c:p:127-138
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.10.016
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    2. Shaomeng Jia & Claudia R. Williamson, 2019. "Aid, Policies, And Growth: Why So Much Confusion?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 37(4), pages 577-599, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    donor motivation; aid practices; Eastern transition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • F63 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Economic Development

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