Institutional Challenges at the Early Stages of Development
Lessons from a Multi-Country Study

This volume examines the role of institutions in early development and identifies generic institutional issues in low-income countries.

François Bourguignon (Author), Jean-Philippe Platteau (Author)

9781009285704, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 November 2023

364 pages
23.5 x 15.6 x 2.8 cm, 0.69 kg

Despite strong interest in the role of institutions; methods of operation, underlying political forces and their precise nature are still misunderstood. Partial analysis of specific aspects of public interventions simplified historical examples, or rough cross-country relationships tend to be the main guides to policy recommendations. Along with four in-depth country studies, published in companion volumes, Institutional Challenges at the Early Stages of Development gives a thorough review of the experiences of South Korea and Taiwan, offering a new perspective for identifying critical institutional issues. Including those related to state-business relations and the economic structure, and its transformation, analytical tools and concept are provided to help diagnose important hurdles at the early stage of a country's development. This title is also available as Open Access.

Part I. Approaching Institutional Change: theory and Methodology: 1. Theoretical Underpinnings
2. Tools for an Institutional Diagnostic
Part II. Lessons from Country Case Studies: 3. Uncertain Development Trajectories in Bangladesh and Tanzania
4. Distorted Development in Benin and Mozambique
5. Directed Development with Big Conglomerates: South Korea
6. Directed Development with Heterogeneous Firms: Taiwan
Part III. Institutional Obstacles to Structural Transformation: 7. The Challenge of Modernising the Economic Structure
8. Behind the Veil of Institutions Where Politics Matters
9. State Capacity and Property Rights
10. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Development economics & emerging economies [KCM]