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Ethnic Fractionalisation and Aid Effectiveness

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  • Roland Hodler
  • David S. Knight

Abstract

We test the hypothesis that the effect of foreign aid on economic growth is positive in ethnically homogenous countries, but decreasing in ethnic fractionalisation. Using panel data covering 114 aid-recipient countries over the period 1962 to 2001, and employing two-stage least squares and GMM estimation techniques, we find a strong support for this hypothesis. Our estimates suggest that foreign aid promotes growth in ethnically homogenous countries, while being ineffective or even harmful in many Sub-Saharan African countries and some ethnically fractionalised countries elsewhere. Copyright 2012 , Oxford University Press.

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  • Roland Hodler & David S. Knight, 2012. "Ethnic Fractionalisation and Aid Effectiveness," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 21(1), pages 65-93, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:21:y:2012:i:1:p:65-93
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    3. Yonatan Dinku & Dereje Regasa, 2021. "Ethnic Diversity and Local Economies," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 89(3), pages 348-367, September.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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