The Possible Contribution of External Agents

Future development in Mongolia, as in other developing countries, will depend primarily on national efforts. External agents can contribute to accelerated development in various ways, but their contribution will undoubtedly be modest. It is better to formulate policy on the assumption of self-reliance, and then be pleasantly surprised if international assistance is received, than to plan on a large inflow of foreign aid, and then be disappointed when the aid fails to materialise in the volume and form anticipated. Moreover, if development policy as a whole is well-formulated, the effectiveness of whatever amount of aid is received is bound to be greater than would otherwise be the case. The exceptionally large amount of aid received by Mongolia in recent years in comparison with its gross national product is likely to be temporary, a reflection of foreign interest in the country during its transition to a market economy. If the past is an accurate guide to the future, the attention of foreign donors can be expected to shift to other countries and other priorities in response to changes in the world economy as well as changes in economic and political conditions in the donor countries themselves.