Political Economy Studies: Are They Actionable? Some Lessons from Zambia

19 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

Date Written: May 1, 2011

Abstract

In recent years, the number of studies looking at the effect of politics on economic outcomes has flourished. For developing economies, these studies are useful to better understand why long overdue reforms are not implemented. The studies analyze the overall context within which reforms are being implemented and the underlying incentive framework. However, it seems difficult to make such studies actionable, especially in sectors where donors have a heavy presence that can sometimes distort incentives in addition to the reluctance from some governments to amend the existing systems in place. This paper focuses on some conclusions emerging from the political economy diagnostics carried out in Zambia in various sectors in recent years. Based on interviews of World Bank task managers, the paper attempts to assess the relevance of these studies for the implementation of projects and the policy dialogue and draws lessons on how they have influenced the implementation of the World Bank's support to programs in various sectors in Zambia as well as the main challenges for this type of exercise.

Keywords: Environmental Economics & Policies, Political Economy, Governance Indicators, Debt Markets, Public Sector Corruption & Anticorruption Measures

Suggested Citation

Beuran, Monica and Raballand, Gael and Kapoor, Kapil, Political Economy Studies: Are They Actionable? Some Lessons from Zambia (May 1, 2011). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5656, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1837206

Monica Beuran (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Gael Raballand

World Bank ( email )

1818 H street N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Kapil Kapoor

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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