reform
Research
Opinions
News & Events
Examining the Drivers of Change in Yemen - a presentation to Australian Government departments
18/07/2011
DLP Researcher, Dr Sarah Phillips from the Centre for International Security Studies, University of Sydney, gave a thought-provoking and timely presentation on the 8 June 2011 in AusAID in Canberra, entitled "Examining the Drivers of Change in Yemen: Informal Institutions and Agency". Speaking to an audience of AusAID staff and representatives from various government departments including the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade, and other guests, Dr Phillips provided a unique insight into the Yemeni regime's opaque internal politics, and the nature of the patronage system entrenched by President Ali Abdullah Saleh over the past 32 years.
New Asia Foundation book on the politics of economic reform in the Philippines
21/11/2011
The Asia Foundation, supported by USAID and AusAID, today launches an important new book, documenting the politics of some significant economic reforms in the Philippines. Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines is a collection of analytical essays by leading development analysts and some of the participants in each of the reform processes. The book has a foreword by Adrian Leftwich, the Director of Research for the DLP. The theme of the book is the role played by 'developmental entrepreneurs' in the politics of reform and it illustrates through a number of cases how and why difficult battles were fought and, in some cases won, in pursuit of reform.
'Reform' Coalitions: A New Concept Paper
09/05/2012
'Reform' coalitions have been noted by many authors in a very diverse range of literatures. But what do we know about them? And should we not understand better their role in the politics of development? What are the circumstances of their provenance, and the political conditions and characteristics of successful ones? Can it be demonstrated that such coalitions have contributed directly to growth and poverty reduction? And, if so, can or should donors work politically to facilitate, encourage and promote their emergence and functioning? In this paper Caryn Peiffer identifies some of the common features of these coalitions and suggests some of the important questions that will be explored by further DLP research.
How can education improve national leadership? Lessons from Ghana
25/03/2014
A new DLP Research Paper highlights the important role of quality secondary and higher education in forming developmental leadership in Ghana.
Collaborative event discussing 'Corruption and development'
07/07/2015
DLP team members David Hudson and Alina Rocha Menocal joined a wide range of speakers at this event in London on 29 June.
Political settlements and public service performance
15/04/2016
A conference hosted by the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence, in partnership with DLP and the Centre for Public Impact, focused on the impact political settlements have on the efficiency of public services. Many of the presentations are now available online.
New findings on education and developmental leadership in the Philippines
15/09/2016
New research from DLP and the University of Glasgow explores the role of higher education in the emergence of leaders who promote development in the Philippines. See the policy brief, podcast and paper.
'How Change Happens': Birmingham seminar with Duncan Green, 19 January
09/01/2017
What works in achieving progressive change? How do power and systems shape change, and how can you influence them? Join Oxfam's Duncan Green on Thursday 19 January to discuss the themes of his new book 'How Change Happens'. The presentation will be followed by a drinks reception and book signing.
New article: A typology of interaction between politicians and bureaucrats
14/03/2017
DLP Research Fellow Niheer Dasandi has co-authored a new article on how bureaucrats and politicians interact, and how this affects reform efforts. It appears in 'Public Administration and Development'.
Publications
Reform Coalitions - Patterns and hypotheses from a survey of the literature
01/01/1970
Reform coalitions - coalitions that include both state and business actors working for policy and institutional reforms - are frequently cited as important components in successful growth outcomes. But what do we know about the inner politics that drive these potentially important coalitions?
Executive Summary - The Politics of Free Public Services in Decentralised Indonesia
01/01/1970
The purpose of this paper is to explain this cross-district variation in reponse to the issue of user fees for basic educaiton and health services, and assess the policy implications for donors and other development actors interested in improving citizens’ access to basic education and health services.
Executive Summary - Achieving Reforms in Oligarchical Democracies - Leadership and Coalitions in the Philippines
01/01/1970
This paper examines the role of developmental leadership in two major reforms introduced in the Philippines in 2012: the excise tax reform, which significantly raised taxes on cigarettes and alcohol – generally referred to as the Sin Tax Reform – and the re-registration of voters in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Corruption and Collective Action
01/01/1970
A growing number of authors have argued that anti-corruption interventions have not worked because they have not taken into account that corruption is a collective action problem. This paper argues that three theoretical perspectives, not just collective action theory, can increase our understanding of corruption and how to address it.
Testing Transparency: The Political Economy of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Myanmar
01/01/1970
This paper explores the political economy dynamics of extractive resources in Myanmar and, specifically, the EITI process. It examines the interests of political, administrative, private sector and civil society actors engaged in this process and the contests among them. It considers how the EITI process has contributed to Myanmar’s continuing economic and political reforms and identifies challenges and emerging lessons.
Executive Summary - Testing Transparency: The Political Economy of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Myanmar
01/01/1970
This two-page summary of the paper below highlights emerging lessons from Myanmar's Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative process.
Developmental leadership in the Philippines: Educational experiences, institutions and networks
01/01/1970
This paper explores the role of higher education in the emergence of developmental leaders and the formation of networks among leaders in the Philippines. Its findings nuance the perennial emphasis on human capital as an outcome of higher education, highlighting the importance of social capital - particularly of networks with people from other backgrounds.
Higher education and leadership for development in the Philippines
01/01/1970
This two-page policy brief is based on research in the Philippines that explored the role of higher education in the emergence of leaders who promote development.
The Political Road to Digital Revolution: How Myanmar's Telecoms Reform Happened
01/01/1970
This study examines how, in the context of Myanmar's transition to democracy and growing international openness, reformers were able to use political savvy, strong leadership and smart institutional design to overhaul the country's telecoms sector. It highlights emerging lessons from this process.
