Seminar for the European Commission Political Economy at Work What is Political Economy Analysis? Towards a common understanding

What is PE? The interaction of political and economic processes in a society: the distribution of power and wealth between different groups and individuals, and the processes that create, sustain and transform these relationships over time. It’s more than politics: links with economic, social (and cultural?) causes and also policy dimensions

Theory and practice of development agencies have ignored politics Whatever the dominant approach: s. Financing gaps, capital spending: fill funding gap, growth will follow. But wasteful investment, elite corruption; poor people neglected 1970s. Basic needs, rural development : basic services for the poor. But large government, neglect of policy --- uneven development, failing growth 1980s. Structural adjustment: get prices right and resources will be efficiently allocated. But ineffective conditionality – absence of political support 1990s. Institution building/capacity development: put in place formal institutions, and build local capacity to run them. But neglect of state-building, and ineffective institutions

Rationale for adopting PE Raising development effectiveness and aid effectiveness –How link to Paris/Accra agenda? Post 9/11, failing states, conflict, state-building

Three forms of PE analysis 1.Understanding behaviour by identifying systemic constraints: structural settings, historical legacies, power relations, institutions (rules) E.g. The ‘natural resource curse’ Neo-patrimonialism as a state/society settlement 2.Understanding institutions in terms of actors’ decision logics and choices E.g. Why democracy doesn’t (always) lead to better governance and services 3.Locating the room-for-manoeuvre arising from dynamic features of change processes E.g. Latin American social reforms, Indian economic policy post-1990s [1] [1] Formulated by David Booth of ODI

Three levels of PE analysis Country or macro (a pre-requisite for more focussed/operational applications of PE) – Link to international/regional influences – Kenya example tomorrow Sectoral and thematic – Increasingly operational (policy/institutions/investments) Problem-focussed (or problem-driven) – Includes aid instruments

Recurring issues 1.Emphasising the centrality of politics 2.Downplaying the normative 3.Identifying underlying factors that shape the political process (incl.historical influences) 4.Focusing on institutions, esp.informal 5.Recognising that development agencies are political actors

Where can PEA add value? Thinking: not just the what, but the why – Deepens governance analysis, for instance Strategy: looking for ways to promote change that shifts political incentives in a pro- developmental direction, given the context Operations: from supply-driven (financial and technical) assistance to how can aid contribute to feasible change?

Specific decisions, processes : Tasks: Formulating Country Plans Choice of aid modalities and partners Design/implementation of projects or programmes Informing dialogue and engagement Issues, for example: Civil service reforms State building and peace building Service delivery Growth