bureaucracy

Martin Williams draws on over a decade of research across six African countries to explain why civil service reforms so often fall short, and what leaders should do instead.

Public confidence in Pakistan's bureaucratic effectiveness is at an all-time low. What does research tell us about the incentives, selection, and training needed to improve the current state of civil service?

Can discretion in corrupt bureaucracies reward talent? Evidence from Pakistan’s civil service suggests merit can prevail—when incentives align.

Digitalisation reforms have become a popular policy tool in developing countries. Evidence from Pakistan, however, suggests that digitising land records can have unintended consequences on bureaucratic behaviour and, in turn, tax collection.

What was the role of state capacity in the economic development of the US?

Politics and patronage exacerbate public sector absenteeism, limiting the efficacy of reform measures

Evidence from China shows why autocrats may introduce local elections and how this affects policy

Family ties to non-elected bureaucrats distort public employment outcomes, and standard anti-nepotism policies are ineffective at preventing their negative influence