Global Development Institute 4d ago

Why do well-meaning developmental policies so often fail? Consider the recent collapse of the well-constructed peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC guerillas. Likewise, privatizing former Soviet assets in Russia engendered authoritarian kleptocracy. In such cases, self-interested activity of powerful agents undermines policy initiatives. Alas, achieving inclusive development entails resolving dense collective-action problems of forging cooperation among agents with disparate resources, interests, and understandings. Resolution requires functional configurations of inclusive informal and formal institutions. Yet powerful actors shape institutional evolution in their favor—because they can. How to proceed? In this talk, Professor William d. Ferguson outlines elements of a conceptual framework for policy-relevant inquiry into such dilemmas.