Does foreign aid influence economic growth? Evidence from South Asian countries

Author(s):  
Aruna Kumar Dash
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihar Ranjan Jena ◽  
Narayan Sethi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effectiveness of foreign aid in improving economic growth prospects in the South Asian region from 1996 to 2017.Design/methodology/approachA sample of eight South Asian countries for the period 1996–2017 is being considered for this study. This study uses various econometrics tools such as Pedroni and Johansen–Fisher panel cointegration test, panel fully modified ordinary least square and panel dynamic ordinary least square (PDOLS) to ascertain the long-run and short-run dynamics among the variables under consideration.FindingsThe empirical results found that long-run, as well as the short-run relationship, exist among foreign aid, economic growth, investment, financial deepening, price stability and trade openness of the South Asian economies. The authors also found unidirectional causality running from foreign aid to economic growth. Both the long-run relationship as well as short-run causality between foreign aid and economic growth is unequivocally positive.Originality/valueThis study uses a dynamic macroeconomic modeling framework to assess the impact of aid flows on economic growth in South Asian economies. Taking into account the diversity of level of growth experienced by the eight countries in the Asian region, this study uses an appropriate regression technique, i.e. PDOLS whose results are robust. Therefore, the policymakers in these countries are well-advised to implement suitable policy measures to ensure optimum utilization of foreign capital resources garnered by way of receipt of foreign aid and build on for stronger future economic growth.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hem C. Basnet

The role of foreign aid in promoting growth by complimenting domestic savings has been an issue of considerable controversy. This study examines the role of foreign aid on domestic savings and economic growth in South Asian countries - Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri-Lanka - by using simultaneous equation system in which growth and savings are jointly determined. The results indicate that aid has a positive and significant effect on the growth rates of the five nations studied during 1960 to 2008. However, foreign aid appears to crowd out domestic savings rather than complementing it.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-191
Author(s):  
Kashif Munir ◽  
Nisma Riffat Mehmood

The objective of this study is to analyse the effect of debt on economic growth as well as the channels, that is, investment, total factor productivity (TFP), interest rate and saving channel through which debt affects economic growth in South Asian countries. The study uses growth model based on conditional convergence and augments to include debt. Panel data of four South Asian countries from 1990 to 2013 at annual frequency are utilized and fixed effect model is used for estimation. The results of the study showed that inverted U-shaped relationship exists between debt and economic growth in South Asian countries. However, the most important and significant channel through which debt affects economic growth is private and public investment as well as TFP. Reducing debt accumulation alone will not rectify the problem unless the supplementary macroeconomic policies are made sound; therefore, there is a dire need to improve macroeconomic policies, good governance and elimination of structural distortions. JEL: C23, H6, O47


2020 ◽  
pp. 097491012097480
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ibrahim Shah

Regional economic integration is the key to achieving prosperity and stability. However, intra-regional trade in South Asia accounts for not more than 5%–6% of their total trade. This study aims to examine the role played by regional economic integration in determining the economic growth of South Asian countries over the period 1980–2015. Since shocks in one country may affect another country in the region, this is taken into account in the article by employing methodologies that are robust to cross sectional dependence. Specifically, continuously-updated and bias-corrected (CupBC) of Bai et al. (2009) and Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel causality test (2012) have been employed to estimate long-run coefficients and determine the direction of relationship among the variables, respectively. The findings suggest that economic integration increases economic growth significantly in this region. However, contrary to popular belief, both democracy and human capital are negatively related to economic growth. Bidirectional causality is found between economic integration and democracy, regional integration and human capital, democracy and human capital and, democracy and labor. This study also presents several policy implications for South Asian countries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Imtiaz Arif ◽  
Lubna Khan ◽  
Syed Ali Raza

Abstract This study aims to investigate the role of three important external resources on the economic growth of leading South Asian countries. A sample of four countries is studied from 1983 to 2014. Empirical analyses are carried out in two phases. First, we have checked the combined effect using CD test, CIPS, Pedroni, and Westerlund panel cointegration, pooled mean group (PMG) framework and Heterogeneous non-causality test. In the second phase, we compared the regional and country-wise estimations using ARDL bound testing, stability test, and Granger causality. Results suggest that remittances play a vital role in the economic growth of selected South Asian countries, whereas, imports and foreign direct investment found to be insignificant. Also, while evaluating the same model for the individual countries using the ARDL estimations also reveal that remittances significantly contribute to the economies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka and imports found to be negatively related with economic growth in the same economies. However, imports showed a strong relationship with the economic growth of Bangladesh. Thus, this paper has drawn some insights for the policymakers.


Author(s):  
Faiza Manzoor ◽  
Longbao Wei ◽  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Muhammad Zia ul Haq ◽  
Hafiz ur Rehman

In the global economy, tourism is one of the most noticeable and growing sectors. Thissector plays an important role in boosting a nation’s economy. An increase in tourism flow canbring positive economic outcomes to the nations, especially in gross domestic product (GDP) andemployment opportunities. In South Asian countries, the tourism industry is an engine ofeconomic development and GDP growth. This study investigates the impact of tourism onPakistan’s economic growth and employment. The period under study was from 1990 to 2015. Tocheck whether the variables under study were stationary, augmented Dickey–Fuller andPhillips–Perron unit root tests were applied. A regression technique and Johansen cointegrationapproach were employed for the analysis of data. The key finding of this study shows that there isa positive and significant impact of tourism on Pakistan’s economic growth as well as employmentsector and there is also a long‐run relationship among the variables under study. This studysuggests that legislators should focus on the policies with special emphasis on the promotion oftourism due to its great potential throughout the country. Policy implications of this recent studyand future research suggestions are also mentioned.


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