The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action

This paper tries to uncover some of the hidden factors behind poor public service delivery in the Dominican Republic. By looking at three sector cases, education, health and electricity, it is possible to observe that in this setting of low quality...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sánchez, Miguel Eduardo, Senderowitsch, Roby
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
GDP
TAX
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/04/16239201/political-economy-middle-class-dominican-republic-individualization-public-goods-lack-institutional-trust-weak-collective-action
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6052
id okr-10986-6052
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ABSENTEEISM
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS
AGED
ALLOCATION
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
BASIC SERVICES
BENEFICIARIES
CAPACITY BUILDING
CENTRAL BANK
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
CITIZEN
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
CITIZENS
CIVIC PARTICIPATION
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
CLINICS
COLLECTIVE ACTION
DEMOCRACY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISEASES
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
ECONOMIC POLICIES
EDUCATION POLICIES
EDUCATION SERVICES
EDUCATION SYSTEM
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
FAMILIES
FAMILY MEMBERS
FINANCIAL ASSETS
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
FINANCIAL SHOCKS
GDP
GOOD GOVERNANCE
HEALTH CARE
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
HEALTH EXPENDITURE
HEALTH EXPENDITURES
HEALTH INSURANCE
HEALTH SECTOR
HEALTH SERVICES
HOSPITAL
HOSPITALS
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HUMAN CAPITAL
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INFANT
INFANT MORTALITY
INFANT MORTALITY RATES
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
LABOUR FORCE
LARGER FAMILIES
LEVEL OF EDUCATION
LIMITED RESOURCES
LIQUIDITY
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
MARKET FAILURES
MATERNAL MORTALITY
MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE
MEDICINES
MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
MORTALITY
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
NATIONAL INSURANCE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE
PATIENT
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
POLITICAL PARTIES
POLITICIANS
POVERTY ASSESSMENT
POVERTY LEVEL
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE CONSUMPTION
PRIVATE GOODS
PRIVATE HANDS
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SPENDING
PROGRESS
PUBLIC
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC BUDGET
PUBLIC CONTRACTS
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC GRID
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC PROVISION
PUBLIC RESOURCES
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICE DELIVERY
PUBLIC SERVICE
PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY
PUBLIC SERVICES
PUBLIC SPENDING
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC USE
PURCHASING POWER
PURCHASING POWER PARITY
QUALITY OF EDUCATION
QUALITY OF SERVICES
QUALITY SERVICE
QUALITY SERVICES
QUALITY STANDARDS
RADIO
REDISTRIBUTION OF INCOME
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
REMITTANCES
REPUBLIC
RESPECT
RISK MANAGEMENT
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SERVICE PROVISION
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
SOCIAL CAPITAL
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL INSURANCE
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL POLICIES
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SERVICES
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
SPOUSE
STREETS
SUPPLY SYSTEMS
SURGERY
TAX
TAX ADMINISTRATION
TAX COLLECTION
TAX REFORM
TELEVISION
TOTAL SPENDING
TRANSPARENCY
VICIOUS CYCLE
VULNERABILITY
WELFARE STATE
WORKERS
WORKFORCE
WORKING POPULATION
spellingShingle ABSENTEEISM
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS
AGED
ALLOCATION
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
BASIC SERVICES
BENEFICIARIES
CAPACITY BUILDING
CENTRAL BANK
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
CITIZEN
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
CITIZENS
CIVIC PARTICIPATION
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
CLINICS
COLLECTIVE ACTION
DEMOCRACY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISEASES
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
ECONOMIC POLICIES
EDUCATION POLICIES
EDUCATION SERVICES
EDUCATION SYSTEM
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
FAMILIES
FAMILY MEMBERS
FINANCIAL ASSETS
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
FINANCIAL SHOCKS
GDP
GOOD GOVERNANCE
HEALTH CARE
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
HEALTH EXPENDITURE
HEALTH EXPENDITURES
HEALTH INSURANCE
HEALTH SECTOR
HEALTH SERVICES
HOSPITAL
HOSPITALS
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HUMAN CAPITAL
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INFANT
INFANT MORTALITY
INFANT MORTALITY RATES
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
LABOUR FORCE
LARGER FAMILIES
LEVEL OF EDUCATION
LIMITED RESOURCES
LIQUIDITY
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
MARKET FAILURES
MATERNAL MORTALITY
MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE
MEDICINES
MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
MORTALITY
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
NATIONAL INSURANCE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE
PATIENT
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
POLITICAL PARTIES
POLITICIANS
POVERTY ASSESSMENT
POVERTY LEVEL
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE CONSUMPTION
PRIVATE GOODS
PRIVATE HANDS
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SPENDING
PROGRESS
PUBLIC
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC BUDGET
PUBLIC CONTRACTS
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC GRID
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC PROVISION
PUBLIC RESOURCES
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICE DELIVERY
PUBLIC SERVICE
PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY
PUBLIC SERVICES
PUBLIC SPENDING
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC USE
PURCHASING POWER
PURCHASING POWER PARITY
QUALITY OF EDUCATION
QUALITY OF SERVICES
QUALITY SERVICE
QUALITY SERVICES
QUALITY STANDARDS
RADIO
REDISTRIBUTION OF INCOME
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
REMITTANCES
REPUBLIC
RESPECT
RISK MANAGEMENT
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SERVICE PROVISION
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
SOCIAL CAPITAL
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL INSURANCE
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL POLICIES
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SERVICES
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
SPOUSE
STREETS
SUPPLY SYSTEMS
SURGERY
TAX
TAX ADMINISTRATION
TAX COLLECTION
TAX REFORM
TELEVISION
TOTAL SPENDING
TRANSPARENCY
VICIOUS CYCLE
VULNERABILITY
WELFARE STATE
WORKERS
WORKFORCE
WORKING POPULATION
Sánchez, Miguel Eduardo
Senderowitsch, Roby
The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action
geographic_facet Latin America & Caribbean
Dominican Republic
relation Policy Research Working Paper ; No. 6049
description This paper tries to uncover some of the hidden factors behind poor public service delivery in the Dominican Republic. By looking at three sector cases, education, health and electricity, it is possible to observe that in this setting of low quality of public services the "middle class" is opting out from the system and adopting private solutions to collective problems. The combination of this opting out behavior with low levels of institutional trust, especially among "middle class" members, fragmented interests and clientelism, among other factors, results in weak collective action and lack of effective demand for improvements in service provision. Some of the tentative policy options to break this sub-optimal equilibrium are i) to build capacity in civil society organizations and help them forming a pro-reform coalition, ii) reduce the gap between the middle class and the poorer by trying to improve the provision of public goods and enlarging the welfare state, and (iii) increase transparency mechanisms and introduce e-government formulas in order to optimize the allocation of public resources.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Sánchez, Miguel Eduardo
Senderowitsch, Roby
author_facet Sánchez, Miguel Eduardo
Senderowitsch, Roby
author_sort Sánchez, Miguel Eduardo
title The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action
title_short The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action
title_full The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action
title_fullStr The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action
title_full_unstemmed The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action
title_sort political economy of the middle class in the dominican republic : individualization of public goods, lack of institutional trust and weak collective action
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2012
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/04/16239201/political-economy-middle-class-dominican-republic-individualization-public-goods-lack-institutional-trust-weak-collective-action
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6052
_version_ 1764397252274552832
spelling okr-10986-60522021-04-23T14:02:24Z The Political Economy of the Middle Class in the Dominican Republic : Individualization of Public Goods, Lack of Institutional Trust and Weak Collective Action Sánchez, Miguel Eduardo Senderowitsch, Roby ABSENTEEISM ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS AGED ALLOCATION ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES BASIC SERVICES BENEFICIARIES CAPACITY BUILDING CENTRAL BANK CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CITIZEN CITIZEN PARTICIPATION CITIZENS CIVIC PARTICIPATION CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS CLINICS COLLECTIVE ACTION DEMOCRACY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT POLICY DISEASES ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC INEQUALITY ECONOMIC POLICIES EDUCATION POLICIES EDUCATION SERVICES EDUCATION SYSTEM ELECTRICITY ENERGY CONSUMPTION ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURES FAMILIES FAMILY MEMBERS FINANCIAL ASSETS FINANCIAL CRISIS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS FINANCIAL SHOCKS GDP GOOD GOVERNANCE HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HEALTH EXPENDITURE HEALTH EXPENDITURES HEALTH INSURANCE HEALTH SECTOR HEALTH SERVICES HOSPITAL HOSPITALS HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD LEVEL HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HUMAN CAPITAL INCOME DISTRIBUTION INFANT INFANT MORTALITY INFANT MORTALITY RATES INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LABOUR FORCE LARGER FAMILIES LEVEL OF EDUCATION LIMITED RESOURCES LIQUIDITY LIVING CONDITIONS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES MARKET FAILURES MATERNAL MORTALITY MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE MEDICINES MINISTRY OF ECONOMY MORTALITY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT NATIONAL ACCOUNTS NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PATIENT POLICY DISCUSSIONS POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLICY MAKERS POLICY RESEARCH POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER POLITICAL ECONOMY POLITICAL PARTICIPATION POLITICAL PARTIES POLITICIANS POVERTY ASSESSMENT POVERTY LEVEL PRIMARY EDUCATION PRIVATE CONSUMPTION PRIVATE GOODS PRIVATE HANDS PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRIVATE SECTOR PRIVATE SPENDING PROGRESS PUBLIC PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC BUDGET PUBLIC CONTRACTS PUBLIC EDUCATION PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PUBLIC EXPENDITURES PUBLIC FINANCES PUBLIC GOODS PUBLIC GRID PUBLIC HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS PUBLIC OPINION PUBLIC PROVISION PUBLIC RESOURCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICE DELIVERY PUBLIC SERVICE PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY PUBLIC SERVICES PUBLIC SPENDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC USE PURCHASING POWER PURCHASING POWER PARITY QUALITY OF EDUCATION QUALITY OF SERVICES QUALITY SERVICE QUALITY SERVICES QUALITY STANDARDS RADIO REDISTRIBUTION OF INCOME RELIGIOUS GROUPS REMITTANCES REPUBLIC RESPECT RISK MANAGEMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS SERVICE PROVIDERS SERVICE PROVISION SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL CAPITAL SOCIAL COHESION SOCIAL INSURANCE SOCIAL NETWORKS SOCIAL POLICIES SOCIAL PROTECTION SOCIAL SERVICES SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS SPOUSE STREETS SUPPLY SYSTEMS SURGERY TAX TAX ADMINISTRATION TAX COLLECTION TAX REFORM TELEVISION TOTAL SPENDING TRANSPARENCY VICIOUS CYCLE VULNERABILITY WELFARE STATE WORKERS WORKFORCE WORKING POPULATION This paper tries to uncover some of the hidden factors behind poor public service delivery in the Dominican Republic. By looking at three sector cases, education, health and electricity, it is possible to observe that in this setting of low quality of public services the "middle class" is opting out from the system and adopting private solutions to collective problems. The combination of this opting out behavior with low levels of institutional trust, especially among "middle class" members, fragmented interests and clientelism, among other factors, results in weak collective action and lack of effective demand for improvements in service provision. Some of the tentative policy options to break this sub-optimal equilibrium are i) to build capacity in civil society organizations and help them forming a pro-reform coalition, ii) reduce the gap between the middle class and the poorer by trying to improve the provision of public goods and enlarging the welfare state, and (iii) increase transparency mechanisms and introduce e-government formulas in order to optimize the allocation of public resources. 2012-04-27T07:44:41Z 2012-04-27T07:44:41Z 2012-04 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/04/16239201/political-economy-middle-class-dominican-republic-individualization-public-goods-lack-institutional-trust-weak-collective-action http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6052 English Policy Research Working Paper ; No. 6049 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research Latin America & Caribbean Dominican Republic