Political Economy of Reform

Why do policy reform processes sometimes stall, stop, reverse, or go off track despite their content, design and implementation appearing technically sound? 

Why do some reforms, when implemented, not have the poverty-reducing benefits that had originally been anticipated??

 

To answer these questions, SDV has developed a conceptual framework for the political economy of reform that has been developed from operations for operations, building on over seven years of Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) experience and on the TIPS Sourcebook.

 

The Political Economy of Reform proceeds from a 'power-based model of change' (rather than a rational-choice based model). It draws upon economic, social and political theory in order to understand how political actors, institutions and economic processes influence each other. Political economy of reform combines considerations of equity and distribution of power and wealth between different groups and individuals. By linking analysis with policy dialogue and actions, the framework aims to translate political economy analysis into practical measures for enhancing the sustainability, effectiveness and equity of Bank operations.

Highlights:

After the summer break the BBL series on Political Economy in October 2009!

SDV DAYS: Training session: PSIA and Political Economy of Reforms (March 6, 2009 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.) Within this half-day training the focus will lie on how to link political economy analysis to operations. For more information or to sign up pls contact pbaumgartner@worldbank.org or sign up in LMS (few places remaining). [agenda, presentations & material]

ESW: "Political Economy of Policy Reform - Issues and Implications for Policy Dialogue and Development Operations" (Nov, 10 2008)

• Full Report (pdf, 1.5MB), Excutive Summary, Table of Contents (Overview)
• CHAPTERS:  1) Introduction,  2) Dimensions of Political Economy,  3) Understanding the Political Economy of Reform,  4) Political Economy of Sector Policy Reforms,  5) Operational Implications,
• ANNEX:  1) Agricultural Sector Reform (cases),  2) Water Sector Reform (cases),  Bibliography

• Reincarnating PSIA as TA:  Lessons from Orissa, India (by Maitreyi B Das, SASDI) Dec 11, 2008
• Political Science and World Bank operations: Reflections on a Policy Experience in India (by Prof. Ashutosh Varshney, University of Brown) Jan 15th, 2009, 12.30 - 2pm; Room H1-200
• The Political Economy of Policy Reform: Issues and Implications for Policy Dialogue and Development Implications (by Andrew Norton, SDV, and Sabine Beddies, SDV/ MNSSD) Feb 12th, 2009 12.30 - 2pm; Room U3 - 465/475 (paper)
• Political Economy Analysis in Governance Related Projects: Experience from the DFGG Project in Cambodia (by Sladjana Cosic, EASSO and Bhuvan Bhatnagar, SASDI) Feb 17, 2009; Room U3 - 405
• Problem-Driven Governance and Political Economy Analysis (by, Kai Kaiser, Brian Levy and Verena Fritz, PREM), March 18; I2 -210, 12.30 - 14.00.(presentation; paper)
• Yemen Water Sector Reform: Translating Political Economy of Reform Analysis into Policy Reforms and Operations  (by Sabine Beddies, MNSSD/ SDV) March 26, 2009; MC10-100 (presentation)
• Political-Economy of Reform in Mauritania: Stakeholder perspectives in anti-corruption and PSIA of utility service reform (By Renate Kirsch SDV [presentation], and Asli Gurkan SDV [presentation]), April 2, MC9-100
• Understanding Political Resistance to Good Governance Reforms: Lessons from Bangladesh (By Nita Rudra, University of Pittsburg & Shonali Sardesai, SDV) April 20, MC2 - 800 [presentation, background note]
• Political Economy of Climate Change and Adaptation (By Andrea Liverani, DECWB), May 28, MC10 - 100
• Managing the Politics of Change: Coalition Building and the procurement reform process in the Philippines [presentation] ( Ed Campos, WBI), June 18

** A Light Lunch Will be Served **