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Reforming Aid: Toward More Predictable, Performance-Based Financing for Development

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  • Eifert, Benn
  • Gelb, Alan

Abstract

Summary We explore ways of mitigating the costs of aid volatility: in particular, we show that these can be dramatically reduced by a flexible pre-commitment rule which adjusts flows in the case of drastic improvements or deteriorations in country performance ratings. Such a system can further reduce variability with only minor efficiency costs. Our simulations suggest that a buffer stock of the order of 50-100% of annual aid-financed spending might enable a corrective feedback loop, with the necessary buffer depending on the size and variability of aid flows. Our proposed mechanism is similar in principle to natural resource funds, which have worked well in some countries but not in others; we briefly discuss some issues in design and implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Eifert, Benn & Gelb, Alan, 2008. "Reforming Aid: Toward More Predictable, Performance-Based Financing for Development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 2067-2081, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:36:y:2008:i:10:p:2067-2081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eifert, Benn & Gelb, Alan, 2005. "Improving the dynamics of aid : towards more predictable budget support," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3732, The World Bank.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandro De Matteis, 2018. "Follow the leader! The peer effect in aid supply decisions," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(6), pages 631-648, October.
    2. Hudson, John, 2015. "Consequences of Aid Volatility for Macroeconomic Management and Aid Effectiveness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 62-74.
    3. repec:unu:wpaper:wp2012-35 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Lidia Ceriani & Paolo Verme, 2014. "The Income Lever and the Allocation of Aid," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(11), pages 1510-1522, November.
    5. Loujaina Abdelwahed, 2023. "Fiscal Responses to Foreign Aid: Does the Permanence of Aid Matter?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 32(1), pages 26-51.
    6. Andrea Filippo Presbitero, 2013. "Aid and Vulnerability," Mo.Fi.R. Working Papers 88, Money and Finance Research group (Mo.Fi.R.) - Univ. Politecnica Marche - Dept. Economic and Social Sciences.
    7. Hudson, John, 2015. "Consequences of Aid Volatility for Macroeconomic Management and Aid Effectiveness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 62-74.
    8. Letasi Iulai, 2014. "Aid Volatility: Is It a Problem in Tuvalu?," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 1(2), pages 379-394, May.
    9. Temple, Jonathan R.W., 2010. "Aid and Conditionality," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Dani Rodrik & Mark Rosenzweig (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 5, chapter 0, pages 4415-4523, Elsevier.
    10. repec:oup:jafrec:v:32:y:2022:i:1:p:26-51. is not listed on IDEAS

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