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Project Record
Research Programme Consortium on Improving Institutions for Pro-Poor Growth (IPPG)
Goal: The production and uptake of technologies and policies that will contribute to poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs.
Purpose: Policy-makers in developing countries, donors and civil society organisations, recognise and value the scope for the creation and adaptation of institutions, as a means for and by which economic growth can benefit poor men and women.
Background:
It is increasingly recognised that a key factor in explaining differences in rates of economic growth, and the degree of impact on the poor in different countries may be due to their differing institutions - conventions, rules and norms that make behaviour more predictable and facilitate specialisation and exchange. But how do different institutions arise? What determines their functioning in given cases? And what are the impacts on economic growth and poverty? The research programme sets out to explore potential answers to these questions and involves research on the institutional conditions for the establishment of employment intensive enterprise. Research will be cross-disciplinary and draw on quantitative and qualitative methods, providing frameworks for analysis of institutional factors in different contexts for both policy makers and development agencies. It aims to ensure practical relevance through policy dialogue, building on extensive networks of southern partners, and collaborative learning.
Intended Outputs:
1. A coherent body of high quality, policy relevant new knowledge generated on:a. how institutions are formed, evolve and function within particular social, economic and political contexts
b. how institutions affect both economic growth, its distribution and impacts on poverty
2. A set of guidance notes and methods for institutional change to support pro-poor growth. These will be amenable to adaptation and adoption to specific contexts.
3. Research and policy practitioners, in a range of relevant disciplines, improve their ability to provide independent and high quality analytical work and policy guidance
4. Learning platforms and communities of research providers and users established. These contribute to research planning and wider change process in a dynamic and sustainable manner at national, regional and international levels
5. Media and dissemination products delivered to meet the demands of multiple stakeholders
Progress and Impact:
To date IPPG has produced:
- 22 Discussion papers
- 20 Briefing papers
- 7 Conference papers
- 7 Public lectures by leading thinkers on institutions
- A bulletin in Spanish based on work by IPPG and a collection of papers on State Business Relations
The IPPG has taken capacity building quite seriously. The main tools used been training, mentoring, and exchange of experience.
Useful steps have been taken to construct learning platforms and communities of research providers.
A number of communications and policy outcomes have been achieved, but communications and policy influencing has not been an area of major focus in the first three years of the programme.
Project Conclusions:
The IPPG is exploring the relationship between institutions and economic growth in an innovative and genuinely cross-disciplinary way. To achieve its potential it now needs to focus its efforts on work which will allow it to draw broader lessons for theory and policy, and to engage more systematically in communicating these to a wide range of stakeholders.General Notes:
Read the id21 Research Highlights:Economic institutions matter, but they are not the full story
Politics, state governance and manufacturing in West Bengal