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How Concessional is Aid Lending?

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  • David Potts
  • Woo Yong Chung

Abstract

The method used by Development Assistance Committee countries for measuring the concessionality of aid loans has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years. It was designed to measure the net cost of aid to donors not the net benefit to recipients. The discount rate used takes no account of changes in the value of the currency of the loan or of changes in prices for goods traded by recipient countries. Furthermore, it does not consider the implications of tying of aid or of policy conditionality. This paper suggests an alternative measure that shows the real net benefit of aid finance to recipients. It argues that the discount rate used by the Development Assistance Committee is too high and that changes in the value of the currency in which a loan is taken out can be important. Nevertheless, real rates of interest for developing countries remain surprisingly high despite low nominal rates due to falling prices of traded goods. This finding has implications for the future real cost of debt service to recipients.

Suggested Citation

  • David Potts & Woo Yong Chung, 2008. "How Concessional is Aid Lending?," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(7), pages 1023-1036.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:44:y:2008:i:7:p:1023-1036
    DOI: 10.1080/00220380802150797
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chang, Charles C. & Fernández-Arias, Eduardo & Servén, Luis, 1998. "Measuring Aid Flows: A New Approach," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 1297, Inter-American Development Bank.
    2. Howard White, 2002. "Long-run Trends and Recent Developments in Official Assistance from Donor Countries," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2002-106, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Kamin, Steven B., 1999. "The current international financial crisis:: how much is new?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 501-514, August.
    4. George Soros, 1999. "The International Financial Crisis," Challenge, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(2), pages 58-76, March.
    5. Charles C. Chang & Eduardo Fernández-Arias & Luis Serven, 1998. "Measuring Aid Flows: A New Approach," Research Department Publications 4146, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
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