Institutional development

About this guide

A considerable amount of development activity is concerned with helping organisations to improve their performance, but organisations are themselves shaped by their institutions. Institutions can be described as “humanly-devised constraints that structure political, economic and social interaction”, or simply as “the rules of the game” (North, 1991). They consist of both informal constraints (sanctions, taboos, customs, traditions, and codes of conduct), and formal rules (constitutions, laws, property rights). 

Institutions that are created and maintained by rich and powerful elites can discriminate against the poor, excluding them from the benefits of economic growth and social development. Improving institutions is therefore viewed as an important step in supporting structural poverty reduction and promoting sustainable development by facilitating economic growth and subsequently aiding the implementation of pro-poor policies.

This topic guide was prepared by Anna Orrnert. The GSDRC appreciates the contribution of George Larbi (International Development Department, University of Birmingham). Comments, questions or documents for considerations should be sent to  enquiries@gsdrc.org.

Latest additions

The following document summary was added in November 2011:

• Casey, K., Glennerster, R., Miguel, E., 2011, 'Reshaping Institutions: Evidence on Aid Impacts Using a Pre-Analysis Plan', NBER Working Paper No. 17012, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, US

New additions