Taxes and Development: The Promise of Domestic Resource Mobilization (CSIS Reports)

There is real promise for developing economies in the mobilization of their own domestic resources. For example, in 2010, tax revenue on the Africa continent was eight times larger than the foreign assistance received. And as aid levels from wealthy nations continue to be uncertain, countries have an impetus to finance their own development in order to deliver responsible, transparent public services―all of which require a strong tax base from the formal sector. The Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, launched in 2011 at Busan, relies heavily on this principle of domestic resource mobilization as a means of country ownership. How we leverage the expertise of donor governments in partnership with local governments in implementing this agenda is key to its success.

Conor M. Savoy is deputy director and fellow with the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS. Christina M. Perkins is program manager and research assistant with the Project on US Leadership at CSIS.