The Political Economy of Policy Reform : Issues and Implications for Policy Dialogue and Development Operations
Author(s)
World BankKeywords
IDENTIFICATION OF RISKSPOLICY PROCESS
TAX
QUALITY ASSURANCE
POLITICAL ECONOMY OF REFORM
PRACTITIONERS
DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTIONS
POLITICAL ECONOMY
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
EARLY IDENTIFICATION
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
POLITICAL ECONOMY RISKS
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
PURPOSIVE SAMPLE
THEORY OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
SOCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS
CIVIL SOCIETY
POLITICAL CYCLE
ANALYTICAL APPROACH
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
RENT SEEKING
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
REFORM DESIGN
UNEQUAL POWER RELATIONS
MARKET INSTITUTIONS
EXPORTS
ALLOCATION
IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT
CONSUMERS
ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS
PUBLIC POLICY
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS
PRIVATE SECTOR
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
KINSHIP
DISTRIBUTIONAL IMPACT
POLICY DESIGN
IMPACT OF POLICY
POOR FARMERS
RECIPIENT COUNTRIES
PRODUCT MARKETS
INFORMAL INSTITUTIONS
POLITICAL SCIENCE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
ANALYSIS OF STAKEHOLDERS
GOOD GOVERNANCE
ECONOMIC CRISIS
STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
IMPACTS OF POLICY
REFORM AGENDA
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC THEORY
MARKET CLOSURE
ANALYTICAL WORK
WARS
INPUT PRICES
MEDIUM TERM EXPENDITURE FRAMEWORK
BLUEPRINT
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
COLLECTIVE ACTION
DEREGULATION
POLICY CHANGE
LEGAL STATUS
CORPORATION
INCOME
DIRECT IMPACTS
INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
DONOR AGENCIES
CHANGES IN INCENTIVES
MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICY
MONOPOLIES
NATIONAL STRATEGIES
IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORMS
MARKET ECONOMY
COMPENSATORY MEASURES
INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
PUBLIC SECTOR
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONS
NATION-STATES
EXTERNALITIES
M&E
NATIONAL LEVEL
PARETO EFFICIENCY
COUNTRY OWNERSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SECTOR WORK
ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
INDIVIDUAL CHOICES
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
POLITICAL ECONOMY ANALYSIS
PUBLIC GOODS
POLITICAL PARTIES
WEALTH
SERVICE PROVIDER
DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
MARKET FAILURES
IMPACTS OF POLICY CHANGES
POWER RELATIONS
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION
CITIZEN
POLICY DECISIONS
COMPETITIVE MARKETS
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
WEALTH OF NATIONS
REFORM PROGRAM
PUBLIC INVESTMENT
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PROPERTY RIGHTS
TAXATION
LOW TARIFF
VULNERABLE GROUPS
NATIONAL POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES
PRODUCTIVITY
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
SOCIAL ANALYSES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
SOCIAL ANALYSIS
DEPTH KNOWLEDGE
POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
SOCIAL IMPACT
POLITICAL SUPPORT
BENCHMARK
INFORMAL RULES
BANK LENDING
COUNTRY ASSISTANCE STRATEGY
UNEQUAL POWER
FOCUS GROUP
POLITICAL PROCESSES
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
INEFFICIENCY
CASH CROPS
SOCIAL TENSIONS
POVERTY REDUCTION
RENT SEEKING BEHAVIOR
PROGRESS
POLICY DIALOGUE
DISTRIBUTIONAL IMPACT OF POLICY REFORMS
PUBLIC DEBATE
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
CONTROLLED PRICES
PUBLIC AGENCIES
POLICY DEBATE
LEGITIMACY
DONOR AGENCY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
POLITICAL OPPOSITION
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
POLICY REFORMS
SOCIAL SERVICES
CULTURAL PRACTICES
POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY
DECENTRALIZATION
SOCIAL GROUPS
SANITATION
POLITICAL RISKS
MONOPOLY
RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS
DISTRIBUTIONAL IMPACTS
OPERATIONAL DESIGN
CITIZENS
ECONOMIC MODELS
AGRICULTURE
RESPECT
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
POLICY REFORM
POLICY FORMULATION
PUBLIC SPENDING
NATIONAL POLITICAL CONTEXT
INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
PUBLIC SERVICES
SOCIAL OUTCOMES
ADJUSTMENT POLICIES
OPERATIONS EVALUATION DEPARTMENT
POOR PEOPLE
DEMOCRACY
FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
POLICY DECISION
ETHNIC GROUPS
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DISSEMINATION
SOCIAL SECTORS
BANKRUPTCY
POLICY ANALYSIS
SOCIAL CONSTRAINTS
INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT
DEBT
RURAL COMMUNITIES
Full record
Show full item recordOnline Access
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7782Abstract
This study addresses the political economy of sector reforms. Sustainable reform processes which improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness in key economic and social sectors are often important elements of national poverty reduction strategies in low- and middle-income countries. For international development agencies wishing to engage in these processes, understanding the significance of power relations within the sector, vested interests, and the links to national political processes can be critical to being an effective actor in policy dialogue. This study explores these issues through the analysis of case studies of World Bank engagement in two areas: agricultural liberalization, and public-private partnerships in water supply and sanitation. The objectives of the study are twofold: (a) to analyze the political economy of reform by looking at stakeholder interests, incentives, institutions, risks, opportunities, and processes from a social analysis perspective; and (b) to illustrate 'what works, why and how' for a better understanding and management of political economy issues in the design and implementation of reforms and development operations. The study draws on operational experiences to inductively develop a conceptual framework that offers an innovative way to look at the political economy of policy reforms. The study presents a solid basis for a future program of work which can address these issues.Date
2008-11Identifier
oai:openknowledge.worldbank.org:10986/7782http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7782
Copyright/License
CC BY 3.0 UnportedCollections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) : Reviewing the Link with In-Country Policy and Planning Processes - Synthesis ReportWorld Bank (World Bank, 2009-05-01)The synthesis report concerns to go beyond a summary of the country studies to provide lessons and recommendations on how to further improve Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) effectiveness. To do so, it draws on findings from country case studies, the literature and recent internal Bank reviews (World Bank 2006, 2008) on PSIA. The synthesis is structured in three parts. Section two reviews the role of PSIA in country work drawing on internal guidance from the Bank and the wider literature. It introduces the PSIA framework and the main elements of an effective PSIA. Section two ends with a presentation of the review framework and the approach to sampling and methodology for the country studies. Section three presents the bulk of the review findings and lessons learned with a focus on lessons for embedding PSIA into country processes. Section four addresses the future of PSIA with recommendations aimed at: (i) improving the influence that PSIA has on policy and planning processes in-country, and (ii) ensuring that it is applied more routinely by partner governments and Bank programs.
-
Institutional Pathways to Equity : Addressing Inequality TrapsWalton, Michael; Bebbington, Anthony J.; de Haan, Arjan; Dani, Anis A. (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-05-25)Inequalities and development: dysfunctions, traps, and transitions by Anthony J. Bebbington, Anis A. Dani, Arjan de Haan, and Michael Walton. Asset inequality and agricultural growth: how are patterns of asset inequality established and reproduced? By Rachel Sabates. Beneath the categories: power relations and inequalities in Uganda by Joy M. Moncrieffe. Inequalities within India's poorest regions: why do the same institutions work differently in different places? By Arjan de Haan. Indigenous political voice and the struggle for recognition in Ecuador and Bolivia by Jose Antonio Lucero. Cash transfers for older people reduce poverty and inequality by Armando Barrientos. Mineral wealth, conflict, and equitable development by Michael L. Ross. Spain: development, democracy, and equity by Carles Boix.
-
Making Public Sector Reforms Work : Political and Economic Contexts, Incentives, and StrategiesBunse, Simone; Fritz, Verena (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-08)Supporting effective public sector reform is a major challenge that the World Bank and other agencies and stakeholders have been grappling with. It is increasingly recognized that political economy factors play a crucial role. However, beyond this broad proposition, specific questions arise: What country contexts are more/less propitious for public sector reforms and what reforms are likely to succeed where? And can more explicitly taking political economy challenges into account help to pursue public sector reforms even in less propitious contexts? This paper addresses these issues in two ways: first, it draws on the existing literature to identify key propositions about factors that can trigger or facilitate public sector reforms, and those that tend to work against (successful) reforms. Second, it investigates the experience of World Bank public sector operations over the decade 2000-2010. It finds that governments in many developing countries face incentives to initiate public sector reforms, but that at the implementation stage, political costs frequently outweigh potential gains; and hence reforms are abandoned or left to wither. Real breakthroughs have been achieved in countries experiencing major structural shifts and those having political leadership committed to higher-level goals. The review of operations shows that successful projects are significantly more widespread than the literature would lead to assume. Furthermore, it provides tentative evidence that investing in understanding political economy drivers has been associated with better project performance. Key implications are the need to differentiate between country contexts more clearly ex ante, concentrate more on reform implementation during windows of opportunity that are typically of limited duration, and design reforms with a clear plan of engagement with stakeholder incentives.