Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Papers,
Lund University, Department of Economics

No 2003:8: Swedish Development Cooperation in Perspective

Anders Danielson and Lennart Wohlgemuth
Additional contact information
Anders Danielson: Department of Economics, Lund University, Postal: Department of Economics, School of Economics and Management, Lund University, Box 7082, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden
Lennart Wohlgemuth: Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Postal: Nordic Africa Institute, Box 1703, S-75147 Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract: This paper summarizes some salient features of Swedish foreign aid with particular emphasis on the recent decade. We point to a number of problems – including selection of partner countries, changes induced by the EU membership, lack of an explicit development theory to guide the choice of modalities, and inconsistencies between rhetoric and practice on a number of issues. Although Swedish development cooperation is progressive in comparison to that of other DAC members, there are signs of policy convergence and the existing situation still leaves a lot to be desired. In particular, a number of recent reforms have either not been implemented on the ground or simply been a reformulation of old ideas in modern terminology. In a sense, then, Swedish aid philosophy is – despite frequent and major reforms – characterised by stability and continuity.

Keywords: Development cooperation; foreign aid

JEL-codes: F35; O19

31 pages, June 6, 2003

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