Evidence is mounting that the pattern of overseas aid through time, of which its volatility (or instability) is a key dimension, has an important influence on its effectiveness. The three papers in this special section examine the extent of this influence, and how it may be possible to control...

Intro -- Contents -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. VOLATILITY AND PREDICTABILITY OF AID: WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ISSUE? -- III. DATA AND MEASUREMENT ISSUES -- IV. MEASURING THE VARIABILITY OF AID: THREE APPROACHES -- V. CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS -- REFERENCES.

The paper examines the effects of aid and its volatility on consumption, investment, and the structure of production in the context of an intertemporal two-sector general equilibrium model. A permanent flow of aid finances mainly consumption, a result consistent with the historical failure of...

This paper examines empirical evidence on the volatility and uncertainty of aid flows, and the main policy implications. Aid is found to be more volatile than fiscal revenues- particularly in highly aid-dependent countries-and mildly procyclical in relation to activity in the recipient country....

The positive impact of foreign aid is limited by the erratic behavior of aid flows. The introduction in 1999 of various initiatives anchored in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) which were aimed at strengthening coordination among donors, improving the design of financial support...

This paper focuses on the macroeconomic aspects of fiscal management in aid-receiving countries. Despite the declining share of aid in budgets of donor countries, aid continues to play an important role in many developing countries. The paper first discusses the implications of aid in the...