Even though multilateral loans may have behaved countercyclically with respect to private flows to Developing countries in the short term, these flows tended to complement private flows in the medium term by signaling, and often fostering, a better investment environment in the borrowing country

Private portfolio flows to a country tend to rise in response to an increase in the current account deficit, a rise in foreign direct investment flows, higher per capita income, and growth performance. The most important determinant of official lending to a developing country seems to be the...