The Landscape of Capital Flows to Low-Income Countries

Author/Editor:

Thomas William Dorsey ; Zuzana Brixiova ; Sukhwinder Singh ; Helaway Tadesse

Publication Date:

February 1, 2008

Electronic Access:

Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper reviews trends in capital flows and capital-like flows such as official grants and remittances to low-income countries over the period 1981-2006. The survey reveals a broadbased increase in such flows as a share of low-income country GDP across major regions, countries with differing commodity export composition, and countries with differing debt relief status. The increase in inflows is dominated by an increase in private sector inflows, mostly in the form of private transfers and foreign direct investment. Official sector inflows have remained comparatively constant as a share of low-income country GDP and even declined in the most recent years. The paper concludes with some tentative policy conclusions and has a discussion of data issues in the annexes.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2008/051

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

February 1, 2008

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451869132/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2008051

Pages:

78

Please address any questions about this title to publications@imf.org