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In Quest of the Political: The Political Economy of Development Policy Making

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  • Merilee S. Grindle

Abstract

This paper explores some of the central debates in the application of political economy to development policy making. It is particularly concerned with the connection between theory, empirical observation, and the practice of policy decision making. It explores distinct traditions of political economy, some drawn from economics, others based in sociological theory, that generate distinct insights about why and when change is likely to occur in policies and institutions. The paper then raises the question of whether such traditions provide effective guidance about the politics of decision making and the process of policy reform and whether they generate helpful insights for reformers interested in encouraging such processes. It suggests that current approaches to political economy present a stark tradeoff between parsimony and elegance on the one hand and insight into conflict and process on the other. Both both traditions of political economy borrow assumptions about political interactions from contexts that may not be fully relevant to developing and transitional countries. In addition, when theory is compared to the extensive empirical literature that now exists about experiences for policy and institutional change, it fails to provide convincing explanations for some of the most important characteristics of real world politics--leadership, ideas, and success. Further, much theoretical and empirical work in political economy has fallen far behind in exploring the policy agendas that now confront developing and transitional countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Merilee S. Grindle, 1999. "In Quest of the Political: The Political Economy of Development Policy Making," CID Working Papers 17A, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
  • Handle: RePEc:cid:wpfacu:17a
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    File URL: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/cid/files/publications/faculty-working-papers/017.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Resnick, Danielle & Babu, Suresh Chandra & Haggblade, Steven & Hendriks, Sheryl & Mather, David, 2015. "Conceptualizing drivers of policy change in agriculture, nutrition, and food security: The kaleidoscope model:," IFPRI discussion papers 1414, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Kalmah Kalmah & Endang Larasati & Hartuti Purnaweni & Kismartini Kismartini, 2022. "Policy Content Analysis of Rawapening Lake Management Team," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 38(1), pages 768-778, December.
    3. Gert Jan A. Veldwisch & Peter P. Mollinga, 2013. "Lost in transition? The introduction of water users associations in Uzbekistan," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(6), pages 758-773, October.
    4. Engel, Nora, 2008. "Drivers and Barriers of Innovation Dynamics in Healthcare - Towards a framework for analyzing innovation in Tuberculosis control in India," MERIT Working Papers 2008-077, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    5. Tim Campbell & Harald Fuhr, 2004. "Leadership and Innovation in Subnational Government : Case Studies from Latin America," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15023.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    political economy of development; policy making in developing countries; policy reform; development policy choice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O20 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - General

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