Looking like a state: The result of limited institutional reforms in development

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01/05/2013

Looking like a state: The result of limited institutional reforms in development

In my book I argue that many institutional reforms in development are limited. As discussed in the last few postings, for example, public financial management reforms typically produce:

laws that are poorly implemented
budgets that are made better than they are executed
strong central rule makers (like Ministries of Finance) but weak rule implementers (like line ministries, districts, etc.)

The ideas relate to a set of work I have been doing with Lant Pritchett and Michael Woolcock. The following video reflects on this work, and an earlier paper we write called "Looking like a state: Successful strategies for persistent failure in development." Some of these ideas are captured in chapter 6 of my book, titled "What you see is not what you get" with institutional reforms.

Posted at 01:48 PM in Change rules, change governments, and develop?, What you see is not what you get (expecting change) | Permalink

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My course at Harvard: See the series of lecture materials here

Post 2015 governance indicators...past blog posts reflecting a variety of thoughts on this topic

'is a landmark analysis that will change the way we both understand and design institutional reform.' Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, and author of 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism

Where you can order the book

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The World Bank doing a version of PDIA in Sierra Leone

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Diagnosing Deep Roots of Development: Johannes W. Fedderke, Robert E. Klitgaard, James P. MacMurray, Valerio Napolioni

"It is argued that in complex settings, performance management may benefit from new ways of carrying out performance management. It is suggested that performance management needs to be more agile, more decentralised and more political."

Imran Rasul and Daniel Rogger looking at infrastructure projects in Nigeria: A really interesting paper...36% of announced projects never start...

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The Limits of Institutional Reform in Development

01/05/2013