Isabella Massa

Research Fellow, International Economic Development Group

Dr Isabella Massa has policy-oriented research experience, in particular with respect to African countries. Before joining ODI, she has worked as an Economist (FIP) at the International Monetary Fund within the Middle East and Central Asia Department, and has developed an extensive academic experience as research assistant and instructor in different international universities. Her research interests focus on private capital flows, stock markets development and economic growth. She has published in the Emerging Markets Review, African Development Review, Applied Financial Economics, International Review of Financial Analysis and in institutional working papers as well as occasional papers. She has a PhD in Economics and Organization at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice, Italy.

Outputs

Cross-border bank lending versus foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa's growth story

Publication - Research reports and studies - 23 May 2011

Applied Financial Economics

José Brambila-Maciasa, Isabella Massa and Victor Murinde

This paper investigates the relative long run growth impact of each of the two main types of Africa's private capital inflows, namely Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Cross-Border Bank Lending (CROSSBANK).

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KPMG Capability Index 2

Projects - March 2011 to March 2012

ODI will provide research services to better understand the capabilities and aptitude of a country’s economy and society. While a number of factors can influence a country’s ability to adapt and thrive, measuring the capacity to respond to crises and structural change is a key indicator in determining a country’s ability to make effective use of aid, develop, and prosper.

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Capital controls in a global economy: in search of a coordinated truce

Opinion - Articles and blogs - 11 March 2011

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, capital flows into emerging and developing economies have bounced back quickly from their slump in 2008. This has been triggered by prospects of strong output growth, investors regaining their appetite for risk, and, in particular, by ‘carry trade’ practices favoured by the exceptionally low interest rates in developed countries.

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European Union (EU) blending facilities: Implications for Future Governance Options

Publication - Research reports and studies - 31 January 2011

Mikaela Gavas, Matthew Geddes, Isabella Massa and Dirk Willem te Velde

The paper offers an independent contribution to the European Union’s (EU) internal discussions on its future mechanisms for the complementary use of grants and loans (blending). It reviews the existing EU blending mechanisms, comparing their different governance arrangements, drawing lessons from each, and considers the pros and cons of possible future governance options for blending operations.

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