Public goods

Can delegation to technocrats or inclusive decision making improve local development outcomes in Sierra Leone?

When electoral rules encourage politicians to secure a broader base of support, politicians provide public goods more broadly

Proximity to the Inca Road improved subsequent educational, development and labour outcomes, in particular for women.

Heavier regulation of procurement is associated with better outcomes in countries with lower quality public sectors, and with worse outcomes in countries with higher quality ones

Redrawing subnational political boundaries potentially reduces interethnic tensions yet also can create new ethnic divisions that exacerbate conflict

Evidence from Brazil shows that patronage plays an important role in public sector hiring, adversely affecting the quality of the public workforce

Informal taxation is common in developing countries. Ben Olken presents facts on this new system based on 10 surveys around the world.