Official Development Assistance Program Research Articles

Do foreign direct investment and foreign aid accelerate economic growth in developing countries?

PurposeThis paper aims to study the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) on the economic growth of developing countries. This paper classifies sample countries into two groups (low- and high-income developing countries) based on income level and investigates whether the two sources of foreign capital have different effects on the economic development of each subgroup of countries.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze panel data on 93 countries from 1981 to 2020 using a two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimation. The 2SLS method is used to overcome the endogeneity problem between economic growth and FDI. The sources of the data are World Bank and OECD.FindingsFirst, FDI inflows tend to accelerate per capita GDP growth in both total sample countries and within both groups of countries. Second, ODA has a significant impact on per capita GDP growth only for low-income developing countries. This result indicates that ODA seems to be particularly important for low-income developing countries.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests policy implications that low-income developing countries should create an environment for more ODA funds to flow into themselves with efforts such as improving the credibility and effectiveness of the government related to ODA programs. It also provides implications for donors of ODA to focus their ODA resources on low-income developing countries to more effectively achieve the goal of helping developing countries’ economic growth.Originality/valueThis paper investigates whether FDI and ODA have different effects on the economic development of low- and high-income developing countries. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this point is not addressed in existing studies.

Modern Scientific, Technological, and Innovation Policy of Japan: An International Vector on the Example of Russia and ASEAN Countries

The article is devoted to the study of the formation and development of Japan's technological policy since the second half of the 20th century. The article shows that initially, the factor of international relations played an important role in Japanese technological policy, since for several decades it was entirely based on the strategy of foreign borrowing. At the same time, Japan carefully studied and often improved technologies borrowed from the USA and Western European countries, developing its own R&D base. Gradually, the country was able to build its own progressive scientific and technical potential and begin technological exports. International cooperation, but no longer in the form of imports but in the form of technology exports, continues to play a crucial role in Japan's innovation policy and diplomacy. As an example, some parameters of Japan's modern technological cooperation with the ASEAN states and Russia are considered. The study shows that, unlike some ASEAN countries, Russia has not been and is not a recipient of technical assistance from Japan within the framework of state official development assistance programs. In addition, the volume of Japanese technological exports to Russia is small and does not meet the interests of the Russian Federation in this aspect. The most successfully developing ASEAN countries receive significant volumes of technological exports from Japan in value terms, but they themselves, except Singapore, do not occupy a niche as technology suppliers to Japan.

The Official Development Assistance Policy of the European Union in the Post-Soviet Space: Geopolitical Factors

The structure, priorities, conceptual framework, methods, and resources of EU policies in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) program are considered. Research shows that the EU funding of ODA programs for the post-Soviet space hiked fourfold between 2010 and 2020. The share of funding for Central Asian states decreased substantially compared to the Western part of the post-Soviet space against the background of confrontation with Russia, as well as due to presidential elections in Belarus. This paper argues that this redistribution is caused by geopolitical factors of EU policy. A conclusion is drawn that the recent declarations by the EU leadership about strengthening the “hard” power and the “geopolitical” agenda are not new and reflect long-term trends in EU foreign policy. Thus, a significant share of ODA funds is traditionally allocated to “social infrastructure,” strengthening Brussels’ control over the sociopolitical sphere in target countries of the periphery, aiming to bring them under EU influence in the economy, governance, goal setting, and ideology. This policy serves the interests of the EU, entrenching asymmetrical “metropole–periphery” relations between the EU and target counties.

Increasing yield and farm income of upland farmers: The case of Panay Island Upland Sustainable Rural Development Project in the Philippines

The 17th Sustainable Development Goal aims to enhance the international cooperation between developed and least-developed countries, and the Official Development Assistance (ODA) program is the largest source of external support in the attainment of this goal. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the Panay Island Upland Sustainable Rural Development Project (PIU-SRDP), an ODA project supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and the Local Government Units of project municipalities in the Philippines. We focused on Phase II of the PIU-SRDP, which implemented randomly various agriculture-based income-generating projects, aimed at improving the sustainable productivity of low-income farming households. Based on a spatial and intertemporal variations of the project, we exploit a difference-in-difference approach using household-level data. The results suggest that the project significantly increased the rice yield and farm income of beneficiaries. With the opposing views about the true impacts of ODA programs, our study shows evidence of the positive effects of an ODA project on farmer-beneficiaries. This study provides insights for future engagement and implementation of related community-based ODA, agriculture, and rural development projects.

THE MAIN TRENDS OF VIETNAM - JAPAN COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF BILATERAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

The article examines the process of formation and development of the comprehensive political and trade and economic cooperation between Japan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since 1973, when diplomatic relations were established between the two countries, and then received a new impetus after Vietnam started the market reforms in 1986 and commenced the renewal policy (in Vietnamese – “Đổi Mới”). In 2009, Japan and Vietnam decided to raise the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership for the common interests of both countries. In 2010, as part of the official visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to Vietnam, a Joint Declaration on strategic cooperation for peace and prosperity in Asia was adopted.The article focuses on cooperation between the two countries in the framework of international and regional organizations, in particular in the framework of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, as well as in the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, in which Japan and ASEAN member states participate. In recent decades Japan has been one of Vietnam’s main foreign economic partners and the second largest investor into Vietnamese economy. At the same time, Japan is the largest sponsor of Vietnam through the Official development assistance program (ODA), actively assisting Vietnam in implementing its national strategy of industrialization and modernization under the framework agreement on cooperation between Vietnam and Japan until 2020 with the prospect of 2030. Besides, the article discusses and analyzes the largest joint projects implemented in Vietnam with the technical and financial assistance from Japan.

Comparison of IKuhosa’s Junior High School Social Text Books in 2012 and 2018.

이 연구는 이쿠호샤 발행의 일본 중학교 사회교과서 제5장 국제정치단원이 일본의 보수화 및 국가주의적 경향에 대응하여 어떻게 변화되는지 검토하는 것에 그 목적이 있다. 이러한 목적을 달성하기 위하여 이 연구는 2012년도 및 2018년도 발행 교과서의 단원 구조와내용을 각각 주권국가의 강조, 세계평화에의 기여 염원, 영토문제에서 일본 입장 강화라는맥락으로 비교하고 있다. 첫째, 이쿠호샤 교과서에서는 세계화 시대를 부정하지는 않지만, 여전히 (주권)국가가 매우 중요한 화두로 다루어지고 있었다. 국제관계의 본질적 속성은국가이며, 비록 세계화 시대가 열렸다 하더라도 국가 특히, 일본이라는 국가를 중심으로국제정치가 이해되어야 한다는 입장이다. 둘째, 세계 평화는 일본이 활약할 공간이 된다. 평화는 전쟁의 부재로 귀결되면서, 핵무기의 세계적 확산 방지 등이 평화를 다루는 핵심문제가 된다. 또한 자위대의 세계 평화를 위한 공헌을 강조하며, 자국의 경제력을 바탕으로이루어지는 ODA도 신장되어야 한다는 입장을 보여준다. 셋째, 영토문제와 관련해서 이쿠호샤 교과서는 자신의 보수적 성격을 더욱 드러낸다. 2012년 교과서가 영토분쟁을 단순히소개하는 것에 그쳤다면, 2018년 교과서는 영토분쟁의 원인 및 역사적 상황, 자국 조치등을 포괄적으로 다룬다. 전체적으로, 이쿠호샤 중학교 공민 교과서는 사회적 분위기 변화와 학습지도요령의 개정에 힘입어 보수적·국가주의적 성격을 강화시키고 있었다.It is assumed that Japan has been gradually experiencing conservative social changes since the 1990s. The field of education is not exceptional, the basic laws of education were revised and the territorial provisions of instructional guidance for the text book were strengthened. This study examines the details of how the Ikuhosha(育鵬社) junior high school social textbook became more conservative and nationalistic. The study compares the structure and contents of Chapter 5, which is dealing with the part of international relations of textbooks in 2012 and 2018. First, the Ikuhosha textbook does not deny the era of globalization, but the (sovereign) state still emerges as a very core topic. Second, world peace becomes a space for Japan to maneuver in the international politics, in which the contribution by SDA(Self Defense Army) and ODA(Official Development Assistance) programme of Japan become a key issue dealing with the peaceful world. Third, the textbook emphasizes more than its own conservative regarding territorial issues. Overall, the new version of Ikuhosha textbook is emphasizing more conservative and nationalistic attributes by adapting new guidance for the text book.

The Real Winners in Aid for Trade: An Economic Analysis

Over the past two decades, hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on official development assistance programs to assist developing countries around the world through the Aid for Trade (AfT) initiative. Although the goal of the AfT initiative is to reduce global poverty levels, there is limited evidence that AfT actually reduces poverty. While positive economic growth linked to AfT programs can be seen in both developed and developing countries, developed countries do not experience the same downfalls of international trade as the least developed countries. This article reviews existing research on the AfT initiative, the winners and losers of such agreements, and the potential policy vehicles that can be used by participating governments and organizations to mitigate the unintended effects of AfT.

Präsenz ohne Einfluss?

The history of official development assistance programs of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from the 1950s to the 1970s offers insights into the government’s selfperception. Its internal evaluations and debates on foreign aid continuously focused on how development and foreign politics were intertwined. By definition, development policy was considered detached from foreign policy considerations. However, this assumption was challenged by aid projects that supported foreign police and military forces, such as in Ethiopia and Somalia. This article traces the importance of debates on international responsibilities and the rule of non-interference for the FRG’s perception of its role in international relations.

Performance and Tasks in the Advertisement of Official Development Assistance Programs: A Local Media Coverage Analysis of the Korean Programs on International Agriculture (KOPIA) of the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in Recipient Countries

Performance and Tasks in the Advertisement of Official Development Assistance Programs: A Local Media Coverage Analysis of the Korean Programs on International Agriculture (KOPIA) of the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in Recipient Countries

What are Japan’s Comparative Advantages in Africa? A Discussion from a Historical and Comparative Perspective

As Africa, now widely seen as a continent of vast potential, has come to attract the attention of the world and particularly of many Asian powers, Japan is seen by many observers as grossly lagging behind its Asian peers and even as hardly visible in the landscape. Moreover, when discussing Japan’s engagement in Africa, the media almost always seem to frame the topic only in the context of the rivalry between Japan and China. Against this backdrop, while admitting that such discourse contains more than a grain of truth, this article attempts to provide a different perspective from which to look at the roles Japan has been playing and could play in the future in Africa. The case is premised on the argument that Japan has certain assets which cannot be found in other actors involved in Africa, be they the Western countries, emerging countries, or international organizations. To support the argument, the article discusses the characteristics of Japan’s international development cooperation implemented through its official development assistance programs, business models employed therein, and Japan’s engagement paths with Africa, all of which are somewhat different from other actors and could work to Japan’s advantage.

Toward everyday practices of gender: Implications of feminist political ecology for gender mainstreaming in Korean ODA

ABSTRACTThis paper suggests feminist political ecology (FPE) as a knowledge resource for policy makers, practitioners, and researchers involved in Korean gender equality-focused ODA (Official Development Assistance) programs. Since Korea joined the OECD in 2010, its government has endeavored to incorporate gender mainstreaming into Korean ODA programs. This has generally taken the “top-down approach,” (i.e., shifting the practice of official institutions in ODA agencies of the donor country to recipient countries). However, social and cultural contexts of recipient countries have received little attention in assessing what the outcomes would be in these. This paper reviews feminist political ecology, which has examined multi-scalar gender politics and considers the importance of social and cultural contexts of developing countries, in order for Korean ODA programs to embrace things in a nuanced way regarding gender politics. This paper argues for the potential of FPE as an effective tool for these programs that relate to gender. It proceeds as follows: first, it critically examines characteristics of Korean gender equality-focused ODA. Then it reviews what FPE is about, including four themes of feminist political ecology: property rights, gender division of labor, women knowledge resource for policy makers, practition on its review, the paper discusses ways in which feminist political ecology can generate insights for researchers and practitioners involved in the ODA programs of Korea.

SPREAD OR CONCENTRATED: WHERE IS SOUTH KOREAN INBOUND EDUCATION AID AIMED AND WHERE SHOULD IT BE DIRECTED? A COMPARISON WITH THE JAPANESE CASE

South Korea's official development assistance (ODA) is “spread thinly” to many recipient countries. It's inbound education ODA is no exception. In spite of the growing number of long‐term scholarship recipients, South Korea considers too many countries, regardless of geographical proximity, which reduces the program's effectiveness to manage and sustain aid. This contrasts sharply with the Japanese system in which only a small number of Asian countries are considered. The linking of scholarship allocation to priority partner countries that already lack concentration may be a contributing factor. Based on a gravity model and using a dataset of scholarship recipients funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, this study examines the two ODA programs and recommends the establishment of an agency to focus on scholarship programs to enhance selection and concentration.

결혼이주여성의 공적개발원조 사업 참여를 위한 탐색적 연구

결혼이주여성의 공적개발원조 사업 참여를 위한 탐색적 연구

Plant pathology research and capacity building in developing countries: issues and opportunities

To date Australia RD 2) identify some of the major issues associated with the implementation of these activities; 3) highlight progress to date, major successes and identify major lessons learnt. While opportunities exist for future involvement of Australia’s plant pathology capacity and expertise in official development assistance programs (ODA), capturing these opportunities will require a change in the current mindset of Australian RD 2. Australian scientists and technicians learn the new and rapidly evolving aid/development language and determine the intersections of plant pathology research and capacity development with development themes; and 3. Australian plant protection practitioners stay abreast of developments not only in their own fields of technical expertise, but also the international aid/development landscape.

한국의 국제개발원조 조달시장 진출 정책

This paper analyzes the size of the procurement market in the international official development assistance programs and projects, estimates the current situation of the Korean enterprises’ share of the procurement markets, and discusses strategies and policies for enhancing the level of Korean enterprises’ participation.

The Disbursement Pattern of Japanese Foreign Aid: A Reappraisal

Three perspectives on the determinants of Japan's official development assistance (ODA) program are often represented as distinct, valid explanations of the aid program. Yet few studies have attempted to simultaneously test the hypotheses generated from all three perspectives in a global study of Japanese aid flows. This study seeks to improve the understanding of the Japanese ODA program by addressing some of the gaps in the existing literature. Providing a comprehensive analysis, the article investigates the effects of different political and economic variables on Japanese aid disbursement in eighty-six countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East from 1979 to 2002. The findings of the study make several contributions to the literature. First, the results provide strong support for the claim that humanitarian concerns, as measured by poverty and human rights conditions in recipient countries, are important determinants of aid allocation. Second, although much of the previous literature has hypothesized that Japan's aid program seeks to promote Japan's economic interests, little empirical support for this view is found in the present study. Likewise, the disbursement pattern of ODA was associated with only a limited number of US security interests; US economic interests are shown to have no effect on ODA.

Editor's Introduction

Editor's introduction The rise of Asia in International affairs John Doyle Centre for International Studies, School of Law and Government, Dublin CityUniversity This issue of Irish Studies in International Affairs is primarily concerned with the debate on the changing role ofAsia in international affairs at the startof the twenty first century. The volume draws on papers presented at theNovember 2006 annual conference of theRIA's Committee for the Study of International Affairs and from some others submitted directly to the journal. In relation to thematter of Asia's evolving influence, it is clearly impossible for one journal volume to tackle this huge issue in international affairs, but the selection of articles presented here makes an interesting contribution to this wider global debate. Irish minister for foreign affairsDermot Ahern, in a contribution drawing on his opening address to last year's conference, sets out the Irish government's perspectives on the growing engagement with Asia?in particular the increasing trade relationship, but also deeper relations in development assistance, in cultural and education links and inwider diplomacy. European Commission director-general for trade David O'Sullivan, in an article also based on his contribution to the 2006 conference, deals specifically with theEU's perspective on Asia's role in theworld economy. The next set of articles deals primarily with the sub-regional dimensions ofAsia's growing and changing role in international relations. Linda Yueh looks at the role of China?clearly now themajor economic powerhouse of the region and a country with an increasingly global focus in its foreign policy. In an analysis of China's gradualist path of reform and of the challenges to that strategy, shemakes the crucial point thatChina's growth has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and notes that the sheer scale of that advance will inevitably have major global impacts. Subrata K. Mitra and Jivanta Sch?ttli explore the changing dynamics of Indian foreign policy. They argue that increasingly, in the domestic political arena, India's leaders see their country as a global player, rather than as a low-income country with mass poverty. Yet, they argue that on some key issues there is an ambiguity to India's position, and an incoherence about her intentions?and likely reactions?on matters affecting her vital interests. Yee-Kuang Heng, in an analysis of Japan's position, argues thatwhile China might indeed become the pivotal Asian power sometime down the road, in the short-to-medium term Japan remains the pre eminent power, with Tokyo taking additional steps to safeguard that status. Bruce Cumings explores the ongoing challenges posed by the political situation on the Irish Studies in International Affairs. Vol. 18 (2007), 1-2. 2 Irish Studies in International Affairs Korean peninsula and how it is influenced by the rise inChina's position. Meredith Jung-En Woo looks at East Asia ten years after the financial crisis of 1997. In that period, she argues, the influence of theUS and Japan have declined to be replaced by the rising power that is China. Collectively, these articles demonstrate the local complexity of, but also the strong interconnections between, political developments throughout Asia. In a section on Irish policy-making three articles bring good, original research to the public domain. Kevin O'Sullivan looks at the origins of the Irish official development assistance programme in the period 1969 to 1975. This is a timely historical analysis at a point when the development-aid budget is rising rapidly in keeping with the Irish government's commitment to reach the UN target for developmentaid of 0.7% ofGNP by 2012. RobertKevlihan explores the limited nature of Ireland's relations with theCentral Asian states in the post-Soviet period and argues for a greater engagement given the region's strategic location. Finally in this section, Oisin Coghlan analyses Irish government decision-making on climate change policy, using a model of two-level game analysis to identify the changing influence of the domestic and international levels on government policy. In a section on international diplomacy and theNorthern Ireland conflict, there are two articles analysing relatively under-researched periods of international engagement on Northern Ireland. Daniel Williamson examines the early period...

Japan's anti‐nuclear weapons policy misses its target, even in the war on terrorism

While actively working to promote the abolition of all nuclear weapons from the world since the end of the cold war, Japan's disarmament policies are not without problems. Promoting the elimination of nuclear weapons as Japan remains under the US nuclear umbrella creates a major credibility problem for Tokyo, since this decision maintains a Japanese deterrence policy at the same time that officials push for disarmament. Tokyo also advocates a gradual approach to the abolition of nuclear weapons, a decision that has had no effect on those countries that have been conducting sub‐critical nuclear testing, nor stopped India and Pakistan from carrying out nuclear tests. Consistent with Article 9 of the Constitution, the Japanese war‐renouncing constitutional clause, Tokyo toughened Japan's sizeable Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme in the early 1990s. Because of the anti‐military guidelines included in Japan's ODA programme, Tokyo stopped new grant and loan aid to India and Pakistan in 1998 after these countries conducted nuclear tests. However, because of the criticism Japan faced from its failure to participate in the 1991 Gulf War, Tokyo has been seeking a new Japanese role in international security during the post‐cold war period. Deepening its commitment to the security alliance with the US, Tokyo has become increasingly influenced by Washington's global polices, including the American war on terrorism. After Washington decided that Pakistan would be a key player in the US war on terrorism, Tokyo restored grant and loan aid to both Islamabad and New Delhi, despite the unequivocal restrictions of Japan's ODA programme.

Japan's ODA in the 21st century

In this article, Atsushi Kusano, Professor of Policy Management at Keio University, Tokyo, discusses the challenges facing the Japanese government as it continues its active promotion of official development assistance (ODA). The government is being exposed to competing pressures from the domestic and international communities. In response to these pressures, Professor Kusano argues that the Japanese government should improve the transparency of its ODA program, think strategically and set clear priorities for assistance, and incr ease public understanding and support. However, the future of Japan's ODA program, he says, depends not only on the efforts of the Japanese government, but also on the positive action by the people of Japan and by developing countries themselves.

Japan's Official Development Assistance Program: Pressures to Expand

Research Article| April 01 1991 Japan's Official Development Assistance Program: Pressures to Expand Xiaoming Zhou Xiaoming Zhou Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Asian Survey (1991) 31 (4): 341–350. https://doi.org/10.2307/2645388 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Xiaoming Zhou; Japan's Official Development Assistance Program: Pressures to Expand. Asian Survey 1 April 1991; 31 (4): 341–350. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/2645388 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAsian Survey Search This content is only available via PDF. Copyright 1991 The Regents of the University of California Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.