Abstract

We estimate the average rate of return on investments financed by aid and by domestic resource mobilisation, using aggregate data. Both returns are expected to vary across countries and time. Consequently we develop a correlated random coefficients model to estimate the average returns. Across different estimators and
two different data sources for GDP and investment our findings are remarkably robust; the average gross return on ‘aid investments’ is about 20 per cent. This is in accord with micro estimates of the economic rate of return on aid projects and with aggregate estimates of the rate of return on public capital.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Development Studies
Volume53
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)998-1018
Number of pages20
ISSN0022-0388
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jul 2017

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