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Donors in Transition: Comparing Aid Allocation Patterns in the Era of the Belt and Road Initiative

Pairan, Trixi LU (2025) EKHS42 20251
Department of Economic History
Abstract
This paper analyzes Chinese aid allocation from 2013 to 2021 and compares it to traditional as well as emerging donors. In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is considered one of China’s most ambitious development initiatives in the 21st century. To explore how the BRI reshaped China’s motives for aid allocation, I employ a two-part model to explain not only which country characteristics make recipients eligible for aid but also which ones determine the amount of aid. To compare China to other donors, I assess the importance of different factors impacting aid commitments by employing a regression analysis and a variance decomposition technique. My findings show that Chinese aid allocation differs significantly... (More)
This paper analyzes Chinese aid allocation from 2013 to 2021 and compares it to traditional as well as emerging donors. In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is considered one of China’s most ambitious development initiatives in the 21st century. To explore how the BRI reshaped China’s motives for aid allocation, I employ a two-part model to explain not only which country characteristics make recipients eligible for aid but also which ones determine the amount of aid. To compare China to other donors, I assess the importance of different factors impacting aid commitments by employing a regression analysis and a variance decomposition technique. My findings show that Chinese aid allocation differs significantly from traditional and emerging donors. The primary driver of Chinese aid is the recipient’s political alignment while the main motive for other donors is recipient need, with France being the exception. While proximity and economic interests also play a meaningful role, accountability is no longer an important motive for any donor. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Pairan, Trixi LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS42 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Belt and Road Initiative, donor motives, development aid
language
English
id
9211171
date added to LUP
2025-10-27 08:31:08
date last changed
2025-10-27 08:31:08
@misc{9211171,
  abstract     = {{This paper analyzes Chinese aid allocation from 2013 to 2021 and compares it to traditional as well as emerging donors. In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is considered one of China’s most ambitious development initiatives in the 21st century. To explore how the BRI reshaped China’s motives for aid allocation, I employ a two-part model to explain not only which country characteristics make recipients eligible for aid but also which ones determine the amount of aid. To compare China to other donors, I assess the importance of different factors impacting aid commitments by employing a regression analysis and a variance decomposition technique. My findings show that Chinese aid allocation differs significantly from traditional and emerging donors. The primary driver of Chinese aid is the recipient’s political alignment while the main motive for other donors is recipient need, with France being the exception. While proximity and economic interests also play a meaningful role, accountability is no longer an important motive for any donor.}},
  author       = {{Pairan, Trixi}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Donors in Transition: Comparing Aid Allocation Patterns in the Era of the Belt and Road Initiative}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}