We investigate whether development aid stimulates growth in transition economies, paying particular attention to the possibility of spatial spillovers arising from aid. We find that common borders and a shared historical and political heritage result in a complex set of associations between aid and growth. Aid has a positive impact on growth in the recipient country. However, the impact of aid also spills over to affect other nations. Aid appears to create positive spillovers through improved total factor productivity and possibly currency appreciation. At the same time, aid depletes human capital through emigration and it particularly adversely affects democracy and governance quality in other transition economies. On balance, aid generates net adverse growth spillovers in transition economies.
History
Journal
European journal of political economy
Volume
40
Pagination
79-95
Location
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ISSN
0176-2680
Language
eng
Publication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal, C Journal article