The Political Approach to Institutional Formation, Maintenance and Change. A Literature Review Essay
'Economic institutions ultimately arise from the rough-and-tumble of elite politics, not from the choices by private parties to enhance mutual welfare'. (Doner, Ritchie and Slater, 2005:329)
This review has four related objectives. The first is to underline the 'primacy of politics' (Levy and Manning, n.d) in the formation, maintenance and change of institutions, and especially institutions governing economic life. The second is to explore how contributions from within Political Science can enhance our understanding of the forms and functions of institutions, with particular reference to the implications for economic growth and pro-poor growth in particular. The third is to extract from the literature some empirical generalisations which identify the range of political factors which have underpinned the determination and capacity of states to shape economic, social and political institutions for a variety of purposes. Finally, it will identify some problems, gaps and questions on the research frontier which the IPPG programme might look at in its later phases.
Adrian Leftwich (York), 2007
Return to Publications page.
Last modified: 31 March 2009