American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
The Management of Aid and Conflict in Africa
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
(pp. 228–59)
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between the management of development aid and violent conflict in Africa. I exploit variation in World Bank project management quality driven by the assignment of project leaders of varying ability, combined with geo-coded data on all projects linked to performance report cards. I find that better project management reduces violent conflict across subnational aid receiving regions. Poorly managed projects increase conflict while well-managed projects do the opposite. Project monitoring is particularly important, and management matters most in regions with a recent history of warfare and for large projects that involve the transfer of appropriable resources.Citation
Moscona, Jacob. 2025. "The Management of Aid and Conflict in Africa." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 17 (4): 228–59. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20220219Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D74 Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
- F35 Foreign Aid
- O17 Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
- O19 International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations
- O22 Project Analysis