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Comment on Lof, Mekasha, and Tarp (2014)

Author

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  • Herzer, Dierk
  • Nowak-Lehmann, Felicitas
  • Dreher, Axel
  • Klasen, Stephan
  • Martinez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada

Abstract

In Nowak-Lehmann et al. (2012), we used time-series methods to investigate the impact of aid on per capita GDP. Lof, Mekasha, and Tarp (LMT, 2014) criticize our econometric approach, our interpretation, and our data-handling procedure which lead to a large share of missing observations in some specifications. Using a different time-series approach, a different aid variable, and a different sample, they claim to find a positive effect of aid on income, which contrasts with our own results. In this comment, we first explain why we disagree with LMT’s critique of our econometric method and show that our results do not depend on our way of dealing with missing data. Second, we show that the methods used by LMT are unsuitable and rely on similarly problematic data-handling procedures. Supplementing their approach with appropriate cointegration and causality tests shows that there is no robust effect of aid on income.

Suggested Citation

  • Herzer, Dierk & Nowak-Lehmann, Felicitas & Dreher, Axel & Klasen, Stephan & Martinez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada, 2015. "Comment on Lof, Mekasha, and Tarp (2014)," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 389-396.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:70:y:2015:i:c:p:389-396
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.06.012
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    2. Stefan Leiderer, 2015. "Donor Coordination for Effective Government Policies?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(8), pages 1422-1445, November.
    3. Nell, Kevin, 2023. "Inflation and growth in developing economies: A tribute to Professor Thirlwall," MPRA Paper 118757, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Sep 2023.
    4. Elena Groß & Felicitas Nowak‐Lehmann Danzinger, 2022. "What effect does development aid have on productivity in recipient countries?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 1438-1465, August.

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