IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/eurjdr/v36y2024i1d10.1057_s41287-023-00595-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Chinese Aid Projects and Local Tax Attitudes: Evidence from Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Abreham Adera

    (University of Bergamo)

Abstract

The provision of Chinese aid to Africa is characterized by a policy of minimal conditions, whereby aid is extended to African leaders in response to their requests. This approach may afford African leaders greater discretion in expediting the implementation of Chinese aid projects. However, it also renders Chinese aid vulnerable to corruption, as leaders may exploit it to secure political favor for a specific region without the need to adjust government tax and spending policies. Such a characteristic of Chinese aid projects may ultimately shape local attitudes towards taxation and, thereby, influence state–society relations. This paper puts this claim to an empirical test using data from the Afrobarometer surveys and the AidData. The results indicate that exposure to Chinese aid projects creates negative perceptions among citizens regarding the state’s tax enforcement behavior. Interestingly, the study also reveals a positive association between Chinese aid and tax morale or compliance among citizens residing around Chinese aid projects. Noteworthily, these results are confined only to less democratic settings. A similar analysis for World Bank aid projects does not exhibit such a relationship. The findings suggest a tradeoff associated with Chinese aid. On the one hand, it promotes compliance among beneficiaries. On the other hand, it engenders weak tax enforcement perceptions. The implication is that if the negative consequences outweigh the positive ones, Chinese aid has the potential to undermine the government’s reputation for fiscal responsibility, which in turn poses challenges to the development of state capacity through robust fiscal contracts.

Suggested Citation

  • Abreham Adera, 2024. "Chinese Aid Projects and Local Tax Attitudes: Evidence from Africa," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(1), pages 102-134, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:36:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41287-023-00595-9
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-023-00595-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41287-023-00595-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41287-023-00595-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abreham Adera, 2023. "Chinese aid and social ties in Africa: Evidence from sub-national aid projects," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 2196843-219, December.
    2. Paul Clist & Oliver Morrissey, 2011. "Aid and tax revenue: Signs of a positive effect since the 1980s," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(2), pages 165-180, March.
    3. Ciziceno, Marco & Pizzuto, Pietro, 2022. "Life satisfaction and tax morale: The role of trust in government and cultural orientation," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    4. Olusanya Ajakaiye & Raphael Kaplinsky, 2009. "China in Africa: A Relationship in Transition," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 21(4), pages 479-484, September.
    5. Isaksson, Ann-Sofie, 2020. "Chinese Aid and Local Ethnic Identification," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 74(4), pages 833-852, October.
    6. Isaksson, Ann-Sofie & Kotsadam, Andreas, 2018. "Chinese aid and local corruption," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 146-159.
    7. Zhicheng Xu & Yu Zhang & Yang Sun, 2020. "Will Foreign Aid Foster Economic Development? Grid Panel Data Evidence from China’s Aid to Africa," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(14), pages 3383-3404, November.
    8. Filippin, Antonio & Fiorio, Carlo V. & Viviano, Eliana, 2013. "The effect of tax enforcement on tax morale," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 320-331.
    9. Dora Benedek & Ernesto Crivelli & Sanjeev Gupta & Priscilla Muthoora, 2014. "Foreign Aid and Revenue: Still a Crowding-Out Effect?," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 70(1), pages 67-96, March.
    10. Paul Clist, 2016. "Foreign aid and domestic taxation: multiple sources, one conclusion," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 34(3), pages 365-383, May.
    11. Giles Mohan & May Tan-Mullins, 2009. "Chinese Migrants in Africa as New Agents of Development? An Analytical Framework," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 21(4), pages 588-605, September.
    12. Morrissey, Oliver, 2015. "Aid and Government Fiscal Behavior: Assessing Recent Evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 98-105.
    13. Hernandez, Diego, 2017. "Are “New” Donors Challenging World Bank Conditionality?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 529-549.
    14. Brautigam, Deborah, 2011. "The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199606290.
    15. Philip Akrofi Atitianti, 2023. "The impact of Chinese aid on political trust," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(2), pages 233-259, March.
    16. Bai, Yu & Li, Yanjun & Wang, Yunuo, 2022. "Chinese aid and local political attitudes," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    17. Carter Patrick, 2013. "Does Foreign Aid Displace Domestic Taxation?," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 4(1), pages 161-161.
    18. Mr. Alexander Pivovarsky & Mr. Benedict J. Clements & Mr. Sanjeev Gupta & Mr. Erwin H Tiongson, 2003. "Foreign Aid and Revenue Response: Does the Composition of Aid Matter?," IMF Working Papers 2003/176, International Monetary Fund.
    19. Axel Dreher & Andreas Fuchs & Bradley Parks & Austin Strange & Michael J. Tierney, 2021. "Aid, China, and Growth: Evidence from a New Global Development Finance Dataset," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 13(2), pages 135-174, May.
    20. Carter Patrick, 2013. "Does Foreign Aid Displace Domestic Taxation?," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 4(1), pages 1-47, August.
    21. John Thornton, 2014. "Does foreign aid reduce tax revenue? Further evidence," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(4), pages 359-373, February.
    22. Samuel Brazys & Krishna Chaitanya Vadlamannati, 2021. "Aid curse with Chinese characteristics? Chinese development flows and economic reforms," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 188(3), pages 407-430, September.
    23. Prichard, Wilson, 2016. "Reassessing Tax and Development Research: A New Dataset, New Findings, and Lessons for Research," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 48-60.
    24. Dreher, Axel & Fuchs, Andreas & Hodler, Roland & Parks, Bradley C. & Raschky, Paul A. & Tierney, Michael J., 2021. "Is Favoritism a Threat to Chinese Aid Effectiveness? A Subnational Analysis of Chinese Development Projects," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    25. McCauley, John F. & Pearson, Margaret M. & Wang, Xiaonan, 2022. "Does Chinese FDI in Africa inspire support for a china model of development?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    26. Bueno De Mesquita, Bruce & Morrow, James D. & Siverson, Randolph M. & Smith, Alastair, 2002. "Political Institutions, Policy Choice and the Survival of Leaders," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 32(4), pages 559-590, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liu, Feng & Liu, Fengrui & Huang, Jiqiang & Dong, Haoran, 2024. "Aid and national tax capacity: Empirical evidence from Chinese aid," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    2. Ernesto Crivelli & Sanjeev Gupta, 2017. "Does Conditionality Mitigate the Potential Negative Effect of Aid on Revenues?," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(7), pages 1057-1074, July.
    3. Djedje Hermann YOHOU & Michaël GOUJON & Bertrand LAPORTE & Samuel GUERINEAU, 2016. "Is Aid Unfriendly to Tax? African Evidence of Heterogeneous Direct and Indirect Effects," Working Papers 201608, CERDI.
    4. Bayale, Nimonka, 2020. "Foreign Aid and Fiscal Resources Mobilization in WAEMU Countries: Ambiguous Effects and New Questions," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 8(2), July.
    5. Jose L. Diaz‐Sanchez & Abrams M. E. Tagem & Joana Mota, 2022. "Tax revenue effort and aid in fragile states: The case of Comoros," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 90(2), pages 175-195, June.
    6. Abrams M.E. Tagem, 2017. "The economics and politics of foreign aid and domestic revenue," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-180, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Mawejje, Joseph & Sebudde, Rachel K., 2019. "Tax revenue potential and effort: Worldwide estimates using a new dataset," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 119-129.
    8. Abrams M.E. Tagem, 2017. "The economics and politics of foreign aid and domestic revenue," WIDER Working Paper Series 180, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. Cruzatti C., John & Dreher, Axel & Matzat, Johannes, 2023. "Chinese aid and health at the country and local level," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    10. Mandon, Pierre & Woldemichael, Martha Tesfaye, 2023. "Has Chinese aid benefited recipient countries? Evidence from a meta-regression analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    11. Brun, Jean-François & Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2017. "Does trade openness contribute to driving financing flows for development?," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2017-06, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    12. Prichard, Wilson, 2016. "Reassessing Tax and Development Research: A New Dataset, New Findings, and Lessons for Research," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 48-60.
    13. Andreas Freytag & Miriam Kautz & Moritz Wolf, 2024. "Chinese aid and democratic values in Latin America," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 198(3), pages 531-593, March.
    14. Godin, M. & Hindriks, J., 2015. "A Review of Critical Issues on Tax Design and Tax Administration in a Global Economy and Developing Countries," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2015028, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    15. repec:idq:ictduk:13654 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. repec:idq:ictduk:13751 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Mawejje, Joseph, 2019. "Natural resources governance and tax revenue mobilization in sub saharan Africa: The role of EITI," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 176-183.
    18. Abrams M. E. Tagem, 2023. "The dynamic effects of aid and taxes on government spending," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(6), pages 1656-1687, December.
    19. Sardoschau, Sulin & Jarotschkin, Alexandra, 2024. "Chinese aid in Africa: Attitudes and conflict," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    20. Émilie Caldeira & Anne-Marie Geourjon & Grégoire Rota-Graziosi, 2020. "Taxing aid: the end of a paradox?," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 27(1), pages 240-255, February.
    21. Philip Akrofi Atitianti, 2023. "The impact of Chinese aid on political trust," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(2), pages 233-259, March.
    22. BAYALE, Nimonka, 2019. "Effet de l’aide publique au développement sur la mobilisation des ressources fiscales dans les pays de l’UEMOA [Effect of foreign aid on fiscal resources mobilization in WAEMU countries]," MPRA Paper 92214, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 03 Feb 2019.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:36:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41287-023-00595-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.