The Role Of Foreign Aid In Development

A response to the pressing need to address and clarify the substantial ambiguity within current literature, this edited volume aims to deepen readers’ understanding of the impact of foreign aid on development outcomes based on the latest findings in research over the past decade. Foreign aid has long been seen as one of two extremes: either beneficial or damaging, a blessing or a curse. Consequently, many readers perceive aid’s effectiveness based on the work of scholars who are assessing the impact of aid from one of two antithetical perspectives. This book takes a different approach, shedding light on recent research that can deepen our understanding of the complex relationship between aid and its aftereffects. Drawing from an extensive set of studies that have explored micro and macro impacts of foreign aid for recipient nations, chapter authors highlight more layered and nuanced findings, with a focus on donor characteristics, political motives, and an evaluation of aid projects and their effectiveness, including the differential impact based on type of aid. This volume is the first of its kind to unpack aid as a complex rather than a unitary concept and explore the wide areas of grey that have long enshrouded foreign aid.

Examines the role that foreign aid plays in promoting the economic development and improving the social welfare of countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Identifies the economic, political, and social conditions that appear to favor development and highlights the circumstances under which foreign aid promotes or undermines those conditions. Discusses the flow of foreign aid and private capital to developing countries, the influence of governance and domestic economic policy on development, and bilateral versus multilateral assistance. Profiles the challenge of development for eight countries.

Peter Hjertholm, Editorial Assistant Aid has worked in the past but can be made to work better in the future. In this important new book, leading economists and political scientists, including experienced aid practitioners, re-examine foreign aid. The evolution of development doctrine over the past fifty years is critically investigated, and conventional wisdom and current practice is challenged. As well as offering important new research material, the book opens up new directions for future practice and policy. It will be of vital interest to those working in economics, politics and development studies, as well as to governmental and aid professionals.

Aid has worked in the past but can be made to work better in the future. This book offers important new research and will appeal to those working in economics, politics and development studies as well as to governmental and aid professionals.

Distinguishing between "aid" and "help" in development aid and finance, the authors discuss aid in the context of other North- South flows such as trade or debt service, and describe the role and evolution of aid during the Cold War. They address issues such as food aid, the EU's Lome cooperation, Japan's emergence as the largest donor and its specific aid philosophy, the often- neglected question of North-South aid, and the role of NGOs. New trends analyzed include political conditionality, the UNDP's proposal to reorient aid towards human development, and the question of aid diversion to the former communist countries. The authors conclude by proposing a series of reforms for development aid and finance. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR