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The growth models of the 1960s ascribed a central role to aid in the development process. Thirty years later donors and the public alike are disillusioned. Many academics even argue that aid has been harmful. The first half of this book is a rigorous, systematic and up to date review of the theoretical and empirical debates about aid's macroeconomic impact. It is argued that a proper understanding of the various channels through which aid affects the macroeconomy requires careful analysis of the links between aid, the policy environment and economic performance at the country level. The second part of the book comprises four country case studies: Guinea-Bissau, Nicaragua, Tanzania and Zambia. The authors examine the impact aid has on a range of key macroeconomic aggregates -- savings, investment, imports, exports and the government budget -- and show aid has a significant impact on both the level and composition of most of these variables, enabling aid to make a positive contribution to these countries' development.