Chapter 5 | Page 208
impact. While economic studies point to positive growth outcomes from aid
programmes, particularly in poor countries, aid has also been shown to impact
on public sector fiscal behaviour in relation to taxation, borrowing, and
expenditure decisions, which are affected by the flow of aid money.89 Such
impacts are often unpredictable given that aid flow itself often fluctuates with
economic cycles.90
Aid and trade policies must also be coordinated at a high level in order to
achieve their full benefits.91 Although many countries have liberalised their
trade regimes during the last few decades, very few have reaped the growth
dividend associated with this policy, mainly due to structural and institutional
challenges, such as the inherently ‘unfair’ global trade structure, or the
weakness of the trading private sector in these countries.92 Therefore, for
many poor countries, the choice involves much more than aid or trade; rather
it is about the composition and effectiveness of trade in relation to overall
growth.93 Therefore, addressing the challenges faced by poor countries within
the international economic and trade regime and harmonising international
assistance and co-operation activities with the domestic macroeconomic
policy are essential to maximise benefits for these countries.
5.3.2.2 Donor-recipient relationship and aid effectiveness
How effective is development aid in achieving the desired outcomes? Key
issues in the current aid architecture include ownership challenges and the
need to establish shared principles between and among new and emerging
donors.94 The effectiveness of aid is often considered in terms of whether it
89
Franco-Rodriguez, Morrissey and McGillivray, above n 14.
90
Ortiz, above n 15, 69.
91
Oliver Morrissey, 'Aid or Trade, or Aid and Trade?' (2006) 39(1) The Australian Economic
Review 78–88, 78.
92
Ibid.
93
Ibid., 86.
94
Franke Toornstra and Frédéric Martin, 'Building Country Capacity for Development
Results: How Does the International Aid Effectiveness Agenda Address the Capacity
Gaps?' in Hany Besada and Shannon Kindornay (eds), Multilateral Development
Cooperation in a Changing Global Order (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) 89, 89.
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