The one per cent target was agreed by the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) in 1968. Since then it has been a self-evident part of Swedish aid. A spending target has major implications for how aid policy is translated into practice and most likely affects not only its scope but also its orientation and effectiveness.
This is why the Expert Group for Aid Studies wanted to examine the pros and cons of having a spending target. The intention has not been to question the percentage as such, but to contribute to a discussion about the consequences of having a spending target in the first place. Lars Anell was commissioned to write a report on this topic which will be discussed by a panel during this seminar, lead by Mia Odabas. The panelists:
Ulrika Modéer, Secretary of State
Stefan de Vylder, nationalekonom
Lisa Sjöblom, Secretary general, Forum Syd
Mikael Cäker, Docent, School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg
Lars Anell, former Chair of the Swedish Research Council’s Board and member of the Volvo Board of Directors, author of the report