Understanding the Policymaking Process in Developing Countries

This book provides comprehensive, systematic, multi-disciplinary guidance to diagnose and improve policy processes in developing countries of all regions.

William Ascher (Author)

9781108417617, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 November 2017

252 pages, 10 tables
23.6 x 15.7 x 1.9 cm, 0.48 kg

'This timely book by an experienced development thinker helps remind us that good development policies and programs require more than careful analysis. Effective policymaking also requires that those charged with implementing policies and programs be willing and able to ask the right questions about how the policy process works. This book provides valuable advice both on how policymakers and their advisors should pose these questions as well as on how they should might get them answered most effectively.' Sudhir Shetty, Chief Economist, East Asia Pacific, The World Bank

Understanding the Policymaking Process in Developing Countries provides a uniquely comprehensive and practical framework for development practitioners, policymakers, activists, and students to diagnose and improve policy processes in developing countries across a wide range of issues. Based on the classic policy sciences approach, the book offers over 100 diagnostic indicators keyed to identify problems of policy processes, policy content, bureaucratic behavior, stakeholder behavior, and national-subnational interactions. This multi-disciplinary framework is applied to a host of policy problems that particularly plague countries experiencing the 'under-development syndrome', including aborted programs and projects, policy impasses, distorted implementation, unnecessary harm and conflict, and shortsighted initiatives. These points are illustrated through cases from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Based on the developing countries' distinctive challenges, the book also offers recommendations on improving policy content and institutions to address the typical limitations.

1. Challenges to effective development policymaking
2. The policy process in developing countries really is different
3. The expert's risk: endorsing ill-fated initiatives
4. The expert's frustration: rejection of sound knowledge or recommendations
5. Overcoming the impasses that block sound initiatives
6. Inconsistent or incomplete enactment of initiatives
7. Inadequate accommodation for excessive deprivation
8. Reducing avoidable conflict
9. Minimizing shortsighted policies
10. Adapting policy initiatives and institutions
11. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Development economics & emerging economies [KCM], Public administration [JPP]