Understanding Policy Change : How to Apply Political Economy Concepts in Practice
The introductory chapter sets the stage and outlines the logic of the rest of the handbook. First, we present the main learning objectives; second, we introduce the pedagogical approach, methodology, and structure of the book. This handbook is inte...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Publication |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC: World Bank
2012
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/11/16988210/understanding-policy-change-apply-political-economy-concepts-practice http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11879 |
| Summary: | The introductory chapter sets the stage
and outlines the logic of the rest of the handbook. First,
we present the main learning objectives; second, we
introduce the pedagogical approach, methodology, and
structure of the book. This handbook is intended to
introduce the concepts of political economy to a wide
audience of development practitioners, including civil
society activists, journalists, students, and bureaucrats.
Since the target readers vary widely in their previous
exposure to the subject matter, the book summarizes a vast
academic field and presents a comprehensive repertoire of
concepts, theories, and empirical examples. Rather than
offering a 'do-it-yourself' framework, we opted
for developing a step-by-step analytical puzzle. First, the
paper introduces the core mechanisms of political economy
and their inner logic, and, subsequently, we help our
readers learn how to recognize these mechanisms in their
daily development-related work. By the end of the book, the
authors hope that readers will be able to: recognize core
development problems stemming from the political-economic
environment; link theoretical concepts to real-life
situations; diagnose the symptoms and the root causes of
malfunctions; and understand the short-term and long-term
consequences of poor governance and low institutional
equilibria. This handbook is also designed to provide
trainers with some of the pedagogical materials they need to
develop an introductory course on political-economy analysis
for policy practitioners. The content focuses on the what,
the why, and the how to of policy change. The readers or
trainees will encounter key theories and concepts and learn
how to apply the analysis to an understanding of their own
policy-making environment. Pedagogically, the handbook uses
interactive classroom exercises and the case study method to
reinforce learning objectives and to capture the concepts,
methods, experiences, and challenges relevant for
practitioners. Structured learning activities at the end of
most chapters and a comprehensive group exercise in appendix
D will also give readers and trainers the opportunity to
apply the knowledge and tools of political economy to
simulated or specific development puzzles. |
|---|