This article argues that the microfinance model that arrived in Latin America in the 1970s has proven, as elsewhere around the world, to be an almost wholly destructive economic and social policy intervention. Centrally, I argue that the microfinance model is responsible for embedding and giving continued impetus to an adverse 'anti-development' trajectory in Latin America's economies, one that [...]

Microcredit was once universally lauded in international development community circles as a 'magic bullet'. Using the example of South Africa, this paper shows that microcredit has actually been an 'anti-developmental' local financial model, and one of the most calamitous financial sector interventions in South Africa's short post-apartheid history. This disastrous performance is compared to a [...]

Mit Inkrafttreten des Vertrags von Lissabon im Dezember 2009 ist die Kompetenz für ausländische Direktinvestitionen (Foreign Direct Investment - FDI) in der Gemeinsamen Handelspolitik (Art. 206-207 TFEU) von den EU-Mitgliedsstaaten auf die Europäischen Union (EU) übergegangen. Zukünftig soll die EU in der Lage sein, internationale Investitionsabkommen oder umfassende Handels- und [...]

This report presents the results of an ÖFSE research project on the development orientation of soft loans (tied aid credits). It provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical evolution and institutional structure of tied aid as well as a comparative assessment of soft loan policies of four European Donor countries. Its conclusions are both relevant for the current discussion on Financing for [...]

With tied aid credits donors aim at boosting the international competitiveness of domesticenterprises while simultaneously contributing to development in recipient countries. Thoughregulated through the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits, tied aid creditsclaim a place amongst the instruments of development policy and are eligible as OfficialDevelopment Assistance (ODA). This begs [...]

Within the framework of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, discussions on Financing for Development and the future of Official Development Assistance (ODA) have intensified. Amongst the instruments under review are soft loans. Though originally conceived as exportpromotion tools, development objectives have recently become more prominent in soft loanpolicies. Albeit regulated through the [...]