http://www.gsdrc.org Academic and policy-relevant publications on governance and international development. en-uk Copyright © 2012 Governance and Social Development Resource Centre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:11 GMT Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:11 GMT http://www.gsdrc.org/rss/open george@gsdrc.org george@gsdrc.org http://www.gsdrc.org/images/logos/logo_gsdrc.gif http://www.gsdrc.org 205 90 GSDRC logo Stephen Jones What lessons can be learned from political economy analyses of Nepal to inform a) donor strategies in that country and b) future political economy analysis in any context? This paper examines political economy studies, commissioned by DFID, on Nepal's agricultural, energy, health and police sectors. It finds that, while the short-term scope for donor influence on policy and institutional reform is likely to be limited, donors can act as a counterweight to rent-seeking and short-term political pressures. In addition, political economy analysis is most useful when it can inform specific decisions and existing processes, especially joint donor analysis and action. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4195&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4195&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Eli Moen and Stein Sundstøl Eriksen How can a 'legitimacy lens' enhance political economy analysis? This guidance introduces political economy analysis as a powerful tool for increasing understanding, and improving the effectiveness, of aid. It argues that consideration of state legitimacy can add value to such analysis by enhancing understanding of what citizens expect from the state, and of how those in control of the state can improve its standing among citizens. This approach to political economy analysis is especially appropriate to situations of fragility. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4192&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4192&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Adrian Leftwich This paper suggests that working politically in a developmental context means directing attention and support to the agents of reform and development (leaders and organisations). This allows investment in the local processes that will resolve problems – such as problems of collective action – through the work of alliances and coalitions. Hence, it will drive the formation and consolidation of the locally appropriate, feasible and legitimate institutions that are most likely to advance development outcomes. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4191&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4191&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Odd-Helge Fjeldstad Why have many anti-corruption reforms in customs in sub-Saharan Africa apparently not succeeded? This paper argues that the reforms have been too focused on formal institutions, and have paid too little attention to political economy issues and the role of informal institutions. Customs officers are often torn between compliance with abstract bureaucratic norms and the concrete expectations of their networks of social belonging. Accordingly, policy initiatives should focus more on reducing the possibility or attraction of favouritism versus acting in the public interest. This calls for anti-corruption efforts based on thorough political economy analysis. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4181&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4181&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Alice Poole This note draws on lessons learned to provide an introduction to political economy (PE) assessments for World Bank sector- and project-based operational teams. The last decade of experience has demonstrated that PE assessments can improve project design, lessen risk, explain why reform champions may fail to deliver, and can promote more thoughtful engagement with client governments. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4087&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4087&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Verena Fritz, Kai Kaiser and Brian Levy This framework is designed to help develop feasible reforms that work towards 'good enough governance' in order to enhance development effectiveness. The framework consists of three tiers: (1) identifying the problem, opportunity or vulnerability; (2) identifying institutional and governance arrangements and weaknesses, and how these are related to poor outcomes; and (3) identifying how stakeholder interests might contribute to or resist reforms. It is vital to consider how the analysis will feed into programming, strategies, and operations. Problem-driven Governance and Political Economy (PGPE) analysis can provide advice on shaping strategies and operations in ways that range from adjusting them to the existing space for change to developing proactive strategies for expanding the space for change. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4086&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4086&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Gareth Williams What are the most common pitfalls associated with the use of governance indicators? How can these be avoided? This brief examines the different types of governance indicator, their use and their misuse. Users need to ask critical questions about what exactly indicators are measuring, and to remember the limited ability of broad governance indicators to demonstrate causality. Process indicators are most relevant to understanding causal mechanisms. Providers of indicators should ensure full transparency in the publication of methodology and source data, and should be subject to greater scrutiny, evaluation and peer review. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4035&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4035&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Arne Tostensen and Inge Amundsen What is being done to support legislatures and by whom? What can be learned from experience so far? This study discusses different models of legislatures and political and electoral systems, with particular emphasis on fragile states. It also presents an overview of specialist agencies in this field, and of trends of donor support. While there are relatively few systematic evaluations of the results of support to legislatures, lessons from the available literature include: understand political economy; adopt a long-term, comprehensive approach; and mobilise sufficient expertise. Contextualisation is essential, and this requires politically aware analysts who can monitor developments, produce in-depth political economy analyses and adjust interventions accordingly. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3983&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3983&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Barbara Nunberg et al. How is it possible to ensure that programmes are politically feasible? This paper documents findings from the World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region's pilot of the Agent-Based Stakeholder Model. The study finds that this model helped construct policy debate on civil service reform in Timor-Leste; helped identify key coalition partners in Mongolia; and underscored the need to tackle smaller reforms on which broad consensus could be achieved in the Phillipines. Mainstreaming the model as a regularly applied analytic instrument could significantly improve operations in supporting politically realistic reforms in client countries. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3974&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3974&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Laura Langbein and Stephen Knack What is the validity and reliability of aggregate indexes of the quality of governance such as the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGIs)? This study uses factor, confirmatory factor and path analysis to test both measurement and causal models of the six WGIs. Rather than distinguishing among aspects of the quality of governance, this paper finds that they appear to be measuring the same broad concept. The WGI authors should publicly release the sub-indicators to allow further investigation. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3973&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3973&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Alan Hudson and the GOVNET Secretariat How does poor governance constrain development? This paper was prepared for the launch of the OECD DAC Network on Governance (GOVNET) work-stream on Aid and Domestic Accountability. It sets out a conceptual framework and approach that will enable donors and other stakeholders to explore the complexities of real-world governance, consider aid impact, and analyse the role that politics and incentives play in shaping domestic accountability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3963&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3963&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Jenna Slotin, Vanessa Wyeth and Paul Romita Do assessments actually affect decision making, planning and programming? This report presents observations from an informal analysis of conflict, governance, and fragility/stability assessment tools developed by bilateral and multilateral actors. Use of assessments is affected by clarity of purpose, timing, incentives, staff competencies and linking assessment into a broader strategy. It is important to be realistic about what assessments can accomplish, link assessments to a planning cycle and build a culture of analysis. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3959&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3959&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Stefan Meyer How is it possible to manage the competing tensions that arise in aid accountability? Based on governance assessments, this paper analyses current developments in mutual accountability relations between donors and aid recipients and how these relate to the domestic accountability of governments to their citizens. Donors are challenged by inaccurate perceptions of themselves and their operations, and often have little experience in engaging with the local public sphere. Donors should make better use of available indicators, adhere to existing initiatives, devise public relations strategy at a local level, and support local research capacities. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3954&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3954&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Staffan I. Lindberg What is the role of clientelism in African politics? How are MPs held accountable in Ghana? This article examines the daily accountability pressures and responses of Ghanaian Members of Parliament, the strength of the institution, and the formal and informal aspects of their role. It finds that these MPs devote a significant proportion of their time to producing and distributing private goods to constituents, and to constituent service. Marginal attention is devoted to legislating and executive oversight. Some MPs have been able to counter political clientelism, however, through civic education and by reformulating constituent expectations toward the production of collective, public goods. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3884&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3884&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Marina Ottaway and Amr Hamzawy Why has political pluralism in the Arab world not yet matured into functional democratic politics? This book examines the weakness of the secular parties, the complexities of Islamist participation in politics, and incumbent regimes’ grip on power. Formal political spaces are tightly controlled and have failed to achieve democratic dividends. Informal protests are increasingly popular as a way of making demands on leaders, but have not yet reinvigorated formal politics or generated concessions from governments. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3854&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3854&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Armando Barrientos and David Hulme This section of a broader paper examines three important factors in the future of social protection: the role of external actors, the bottlenecks of sustainable finance and delivery capacity, and politics. It argues that the role of national governments in formulating and coordinating policies is important, and emphasises the need for political conditions that are conducive both to the initiation of social protection programmes and their sustainability. Donors should prioritise governments' capacity to fund social protection programmes and focus on creating a domestic political constituency to support social protection. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3839&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3839&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Bet Caeyers and Stefan Dercon Is the targeting carried out by community-based transfer programmes influenced by beneficiaries' political and social connections? This paper investigates how targeted transfers are allocated in Ethiopia under a highly bureaucratised and decentralised administrative system. It finds strong evidence of favouritism and the influence of political connections; families in need without connections to local political elites are significantly less likely to receive food aid transfers. This illustrates the importance of political economy in the delivery of even basic aid. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3818&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3818&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tim Kelsall How can empirical research be used to build policy-relevant theory about governance and development? This paper reflects on the Africa Power and Politics Research Programme (APPP), arguing that contextually modified concepts from game theory can help explain development outcomes. There is little in the literature or initial fieldwork results to suggest that mix of governance modes itself is a key driver of better and worse public goods provision. The drivers seem instead to include: (1) game-like mechanisms; and (2) structural-institutional factors. Pre-fieldwork theoretical reflection should be combined with intense periods of empirical observation, analytical modelling and cross-case comparative theory building. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3770&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3770&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Christopher Adam and Stefan Dercon How do political choices, institutional structures and forms of governance influence the economic choices made by governments and citizens? How are the methods of modern economics being used to deepen understanding of the ways in which political constraints shape economic development? This article summarises recent developments in the study of the political economy of development, introducing papers that illustrate key themes and methodological innovations. Translating research on the political economy of development into policy remains challenging. It is important to link the innovation of modern microeconomic research with broader aggregate analysis. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3769&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3769&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Geir Sundet and Eli Moen How can donors contribute to governance reform in Kenya? What role can they play in strengthening state-society relations in particular? This report, published by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), makes recommendations for Norway’s strategic approach to governance in Kenya based on a political economy analysis of the country. More focus on state-society relations is needed, particularly at local government level. Systematic learning, analysis and social dialogue should also be emphasised. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3765&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3765&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT