The perceived lack of conclusive quantitative evidence on the macroeconomic effects of debt relief in low-income countries has generally blurred the image of debt relief efforts and left the issues of its effectiveness and efficiency open to debate and dispute. This thesis seeks to shed more light on the subject by providing some further empirical evidence. This objective is achieved by performing an empirical investigation of two effects of debt relief. First, the study examines the debt relief-new borrowing relationship in a multivariable regression framework. The results that emerge suggest that, on average, debt relief can be beneficial in reducing the future new borrowing of Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs). This conclusion, to some extent, is in line with the goals of HIPCs debt relief initiatives in reducing external debt burdens of those countries to sustainable levels. However, it presents a challenge to the views of William Easterly on the ???perverse incentive effects??? of ???continuing waves??? of debt relief that are said to lead to further debt accumulation of a similar magnitude to replace old cancelled debt. Second, the analysis explores the influence of debt relief on domestic investment behaviour in developing countries. Debt relief is found to have a positive effect on domestic investment in countries with good policy environments. This result suggests that debt relief would be more effective in promoting domestic investment if it were more cautiously conditioned on sound policy frameworks.

The perceived lack of conclusive quantitative evidence on the macroeconomic effects of debt relief in low-income countries has generally blurred the image of debt relief efforts and left the issues of its effectiveness and efficiency open to debate and dispute. This thesis seeks to shed more light on the subject by providing some further empirical evidence. This objective is achieved by performing an empirical investigation of two effects of debt relief. First, the study examines the debt relief-new borrowing relationship in a multivariable regression framework. The results that emerge suggest that, on average, debt relief can be beneficial in reducing the future new borrowing of Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs). This conclusion, to some extent, is in line with the goals of HIPCs debt relief initiatives in reducing external debt burdens of those countries to sustainable levels. However, it presents a challenge to the views of William Easterly on the ???perverse incentive effects??? of ???continuing waves??? of debt relief that are said to lead to further debt accumulation of a similar magnitude to replace old cancelled debt. Second, the analysis explores the influence of debt relief on domestic investment behaviour in developing countries. Debt relief is found to have a positive effect on domestic investment in countries with good policy environments. This result suggests that debt relief would be more effective in promoting domestic investment if it were more cautiously conditioned on sound policy frameworks.

Thesis (PhD(Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 301-310).

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The HIPC Initiative offers qualifying heavily indebted poor countries the opportunity to renege on their debt obligations in return for an emphatic commitment to poverty reduction and reform. This dissertation assesses the effectiveness of the HIPC Initiative in light of the fact that one third of the world's population continues to live on an average of US$1 per day. In evaluating the HIPC Initiative one simple question is posed: taking into consideration the abject poverty experienced by over a billion people in the developing world, and the urgency with which it must be addressed, is the HIPC Initiative extensive enough, deep enough or broad enough to effectively challenge worldwide poverty? Using quantitative and qualitative research methods, the dissertation investigates this question by examining the divergent points of view offered by the World Bank and IMF on the one hand, and NGOs on the other as they comment on the most hotly debated issues surrounding the effectiveness of the HIPC Initiative. The analysis leads us to an evaluation of the following issues: establishing debt sustainability to qualify for HIPC relief; the issue of conditionality and the use of poverty reduction strategy papers; funding the HIPC Initiative; the likelihood of HIPCs escaping the debt trap after HIPC relief; and finally, how the HIPC Initiative is contributing to attaining the Millennium Development Goals is evaluated. After probing the stances of the World Bank and IMF, and the contrasting views of NGOs the conclusions indicate that the HIPC Initiative is neither extensive, deep nor broad enough to effectively challenge poverty, or to provide indebted poor countries with a lasting escape from the burden of unsustainable debt. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Inisiatief bied aan arm lande met 'n groot skuldlas, wat kwalifiseer vir hulp, die geleentheid om hul skuldverpligtings af te las in ruil vir 'n definitiewe verbintenis tot armoede-vermindering en -hervorming. Hierdie verhandeling evalueer die doeltreffendheid van die HIPC Inisiatief teen die agtergrond van die feit dat een derde van die wêreld se bevolking op 'n gemiddelde van een Amerikaanse Dollar per dag oorleef. Hierdie evaluering van die HIPC Inisiatief stel 'n eenvoudige vraag: Is die HIPC Inisiatief voldoende en uitgebreid genoeg om die uitdaging van wêreldwye armoede aan te spreek indien 'n mens die uiterste armoede van meer as 'n biljoen mense in ontwikkelende gebiede in ag neem, sowel as die dringendheid waarmee dit aangespreek moet word? Deur van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes gebruik te maak, ondersoek die verhandeling hierdie vraag deur uiteenlopende gesigspunte van die Wêreldbank en die Internasionale Monitêre Fonds (IMF) aan die een kant, en Nie- Regerings Orginisasies (NRO's) s'n aan die ander kant, te ondersoek aan die hand van hul kommentaar op die belangrikste kwessies oor die doeltreffendheid van die HIPC Inisiatief. Hierdie ontleding lei tot 'n evaluering van die volgende kwessies: bepaling van lande se potensiaal om met terugbetalings vol te hou ten einde vir hulp deur die HIPC te kwalifiseer; die kwessie van voorwaardelikheid en die gebruik van armoedeverligtingstrategieë; befondsing van die HIPC Inisiatief; die moontlikheid dat die HIPC's die skuldstrikke na toepassing van HIPC-bystand sal ontsnap; en laastens, hoe die HIPC Inisiatief se bydrae tot die bereiking van die Millenium Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte geëvalueer word. Die standpunte van die Wêreld Bank en die IMF sowel as die teengestelde sienings van die NRO's word ondersoek. Die gevolgtrekking toon dat dat die HIPC Insiatief nie uitgebreid, diep of breed genoeg is om armoede doeltreffend hok te slaan nie, of om skuldlastige arm lande te help om finaal van hul skuldlas te ontsnap nie.