Sveriges biståndsallokering: En empirisk analys

Abstract

The Nordic countries’ aid allocation is often viewed as a role model by foreign aid researchers. There is however a lack of empirical studies examining Sweden’s foreign aid allocation after the beginning of the 21st century. This thesis has primarily examined the determinants of Sweden’s aid allocation, and secondly, it has examined the differences that exist between the Nordic countries. The examined determinants can be linked to good governance, need, and donors’ self-interests. The thesis concludes that Sweden’s bilateral aid allocation is primarily needbased. Economic institutional quality has also been found to be an important determinant of the Swedish foreign aid, but no significant connection has been found to recipient countries’ level of democracy. No evidence is found for that commercial interests, political alliances, or religious aspects govern the Swedish aid allocation. The European countries seem to receive more foreign aid from Sweden, ceteris paribus, but no other regional differences have been found. The investigation has not found evidence for any changes in Sweden’s aid allocation as a result of its decreased number of recipient countries in 2007. The other Nordic countries’ aid allocation is, like for Sweden, mainly driven by the recipient countries’ needs. The biggest differences that exist between the Nordic countries can be linked to the countries’ choices of geographical focus areas.