Research

Published/forthcoming papers:

"Decision-Making in the United Nations General Assembly: A Comprehensive Database of Resolution-related Decision" with Joshua Fjelstul (University of Oslo) & Simon Hug (University of Geneva). The Review of International Organizations, Online First, 2025.

"How do stock markets in emerging economies respond to World Bank loan approvals?" with Erasmus Kersting. Emerging Markets Review, December 2024, 64, 101207.

“Donor motives and aid effectiveness.” In Raj M. Desai, Shantayanan Devarajan & Jennifer Tobin, Editors, Handbook on Aid and Development, Edward Elgar, 2024, 174-186.

“International consequences of domestic politics: How divided government drives informal U.S. influence in the World Bank” with Erasmus Kersting. In Kenneth W. Abbott & Thomas J. Biersteker, Editors, Informal Governance in World Politics, Cambridge University Press, 2024, 161-187.

"The World Bank COVID-19 response: Politics as usual?" with Carolyn McWhirter.  Review of International Organizations, July 2022, 17(3):397-425. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #46

"Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as an instrument for Chinese influence? Supplementary versus remedial multilateralism" with Ayse Kaya & Jonathan Kay.  World Development, September 2021, 145:105531.

"Introduction to the Special Issue: In memoriam Stephen Knack" with Philip Keefer.  Review of International Organizations, July 2021, 16(3):473-494.

"Do domestic politics shape U.S. influence in the World Bank?" with Erasmus Kersting.  Review of International Organizations, January 2021, 16(1):29-58. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #28

"The rise of supplemental lending at the World Bank" with Erasmus Kersting.  Canadian Journal of Economics, November 2019, 52(4):1655-1698. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #30

"What influences World Bank project evaluations?" with Katharina Michaelowa. In Nabamita Dutta & Claudia Williamson, Editors, Lessons on Foreign Aid and Economic Development: Micro and Macro Perspectives, Palgrave/McMillan, September/October 2019, 105-150. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #26

"With a little help from my friends: Global electioneering and World Bank lending" with Erasmus Kersting. Journal of Development Economics, July 2016, 121:153-165. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #25

"Informal influence in the Inter-American Development Bank" with Elizabeth Bland. In B. Mak Arvin & Bryon Lew, Editors, Handbook on the Economics of Foreign Aid, November 2015, 255-279. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #22

"Assessing the impact of World Bank preparation on project outcomes." Journal of Development Economics, July 2015, 115:111-123. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #20

"Aid and democracy redux" with Erasmus Kersting. European Economic Review, April 2014, 67:125-143. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #23

"The political economy of project preparation: An empirical analysis of World Bank projects." Journal of Development Economics, November 2013, 105:211-225. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #14

"An empirical assessment of informal influence in the World Bank." Economic Development and Cultural Change, January 2013, 61(2):431-464. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #9

"What determines the size of aid projects?" World Development, November 2011, 39(11):1981-1994. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #10

"Informal influence in the Asian Development Bank." Review of International Organizations, September 2011, 6(3-4):223-257.  Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #13

"The impact of aid on growth revisited: Do donor motives matter?" with Axel Dreher. Economics Letters, June 2010, 107(3):338-340. Working Paper: Abstract   VSBEcon #5

"Changing aid regimes? U.S. foreign aid from the Cold War to the War on Terror" with Robert K. Fleck. Journal of Development Economics, March 2010, 91(2):185-197. Working Paper:  Abstract   VSBEcon #1

"Special focus: Foreign aid." Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, February 2010, 50(1):1-2.

"The political economy of conditionality: An empirical analysis of World Bank loan disbursements." Journal of Development Economics, May 2009, 89(1):51-61. Working Paper: Abstract   VCEWP #92

"Donor influence in multilateral development banks:  The case of the Asian Development Bank." Review of International Organizations, June 2006, 1(2):173-195. Working Paper: Abstract   VCEWP #70

"How do political changes influence U.S. bilateral aid allocations? Evidence from panel data" with Robert K. Fleck. Review of Development Economics, May 2006, 10(2):210-223.  Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #67

 
"World Bank independence: A model and statistical analysis of U.S. influence" with Robert K. Fleck. Review of Development Economics, May 2006, 10(2):224-240.  Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #53

"World Bank lending and regulation." Economic Systems, December 2005, 29(4):384-407. Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #66

"Aid and regulation." Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, May 2005, 45(2-3):325-345. Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #65

"Reassessing the role of constituency in Congressional voting" with Robert K. Fleck. Public Choice, July 2002, 112:31-53. Working Paper:   Abstract

"World Bank-borrower relations and project supervision." Canadian Journal of Development Studies, March 2001, 22(1):191-218. Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #32

"Foreign aid and domestic politics: Voting in Congress and the allocation of USAID contracts across Congressional districts" with Robert K. Fleck. Southern Economic Journal, January 2001, 67(3):598-617. Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #44

"Supervision and performance: The case of World Bank projects." Journal of Development Economics, June 2000, 62(1):233-259.

"Sovereignty and NGOs." In Kendall Stiles, Editor, Global Institutions and Local Empowerment, St. Martins/MacMillan Press, International Political Economy Series, 1999, 48-64. Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #40

"Aid and sovereignty." Social Theory and Practice, Spring 1999, 25(1):79-92. Working Paper: Abstract  VCEWP #38