Building State Capability: Evidence, Analysis, Action

Governments play a major role in the development process, but many interventions have limited impact. This book addresses these weaknesses and gaps by providing evidence of capability shortfalls and identifying capability traps that hold many governments back. It describes a process called PDIA (problem driven iterative adaptation) that empowers people working in governments to find and fit solutions to the problems they face, helping them devise policies and reforms that have more impact than those of the past.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Governments play a crucial role in the development process, continually introducing reforms and policies to achieve developmental objectives. However, the impact of many of these interventions is limited, with schools being built but children not learning, IT systems being introduced but not utilized, and plans being written but not implemented. These achievement deficiencies highlight gaps in capabilities and weaknesses in the process of building state capability.

This book aims to address these weaknesses and gaps. It begins by providing evidence of the capability shortfalls that exist in many countries, revealing that many governments lack basic capacities even after decades of reforms and capacity-building efforts. The book then analyzes this evidence, identifying capability traps that hinder many governments, particularly related to isomorphic mimicry (where governments copy best practice solutions from other countries to appear more capable, even if they are not) and premature load bearing (where governments adopt new mechanisms that they cannot effectively make work, given weak extant capacities).

To overcome these capability traps, the book proposes a process called PDIA (problem-driven iterative adaptation). This process empowers individuals working in governments to identify and fit solutions to the problems they face. The discussion about this process is structured in a practical manner, allowing readers to apply tools and ideas to the capability challenges they encounter in their own contexts. By doing so, readers can devise policies and reforms that have a greater impact than those of the past.

In conclusion, this book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing governments in the development process. By addressing the weaknesses and gaps in capability, governments can achieve more effective and sustainable development outcomes.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198853039