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Why there Should be No Political Foreign Aid Curse

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  • Altincekic, Ceren
  • Bearce, David H.

Abstract

This paper considers the causality underlying the so-called political aid curse, which proposes that foreign aid, like oil, should hinder democracy. Using a theoretical model which identifies repression and appeasement as the primary alternatives to democratization, it argues that aid revenue should not produce a political curse because it is less fungible, more conditional, and less constant than state oil revenue, making it difficult for recipient governments to use their aid to fund either repression or appeasement. Using several different measures associated with repression and appeasement, the statistical results show that aid cannot be associated with any of these dependent variables.

Suggested Citation

  • Altincekic, Ceren & Bearce, David H., 2014. "Why there Should be No Political Foreign Aid Curse," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 18-32.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:64:y:2014:i:c:p:18-32
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.05.014
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    2. Roel Dom & Oliver Morrissey & Abrams Tagem, 2023. "Taxation and Accountability in sub-Saharan Africa," Discussion Papers 2023-05, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    3. Samuel Brazys & Johan A. Elkink & Gina Kelly, 2017. "Bad neighbors? How co-located Chinese and World Bank development projects impact local corruption in Tanzania," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 227-253, June.
    4. Jones, Sam & Tarp, Finn, 2016. "Does foreign aid harm political institutions?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 266-281.
    5. Ann-Sofie Isaksson & Dick Durevall, 2023. "Aid and institutions: Local effects of World Bank aid on perceived institutional quality in Africa," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 523-551, July.
    6. Jones, Sam & Tarp, Finn, 2016. "Does foreign aid harm political institutions?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 266-281.
    7. Mbiankeu Nguea, Stéphane & Kaguendo, Ulrich Vianney Elisée & Noumba, Issidor, 2022. "Are growth effects of foreign capital significant for increasing access to electricity in Africa?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    8. Helen V. Milner & Daniel L. Nielson & Michael G. Findley, 2016. "Citizen preferences and public goods: comparing preferences for foreign aid and government programs in Uganda," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 219-245, June.
    9. Miraj ul Haq & Nuzhat Shamim & Muhammad Luqman, 2020. "Foreign Aid, Political Institutions and Economic Freedom: Empirical Evidence from Selected Developing Countries," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 153-178, Jan-June.
    10. Haass, Felix & Ottmann, Martin, 2017. "Profits from Peace: The Political Economy of Power-Sharing and Corruption," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 60-74.
    11. Mbiankeu Nguea, Stéphane & KAGUENDO, Ulrich Vianney Elisée, 2022. "Are growth effects of foreign capital significant for increasing access to electricity in Africa?," MPRA Paper 111604, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Abrams M.E. Tagem & Oliver Morrissey, 2021. "What are the drivers of tax capacity in sub-Saharan Africa?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-161, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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