The decline in poverty and gains in living standards since the 1960s presents today's most pressing development challenge: a greater demand for resources. This paper brings together what the world can learn from development studies and from sustainability studies to understand how to accelerate sustainability in order to meet this demand. It argues that the development era of ...» more
Library
This e-library contains more than 4500 external publications on governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian issues. It includes academic and grey literature selected for its basis in good quality research and coverage of a range of perspectives. Policy-oriented summaries of each document are provided, plus links to the full text.
People and corruption: Africa survey 2015
This report surveys the public experiences and perceptions of corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa, in order to put the views of ordinary people at the centre of corruption debates. It finds that while many Africans view corruption as being on the rise in their own country and believe their government is not doing well in tackling the issue, there are a small number of countries ...» more
Ethnic heterogeneity and public goods provision in Zambia: Evidence of a subnational ‘‘diversity dividend”
This article challenges the ‘‘diversity debit” hypothesis that ethnic diversity has a negative impact on social, economic, and political outcomes. It argues that rather than focus on why this is the case, research should seek to explore the underlying mechanisms of such negative relationship, specifically why these relationships may differ across sub-national budgetary and ...» more
Do citizens reward good service? Voter responses to basic service provision in southern Africa
This study tests the accountability hypothesis that dramatic improvements in key basic infrastructural service areas – water provision, sewerage, and refuse collection – lead to increased electoral returns to the incumbent. The findings from four Southern African countries reveals a negative relationship between change in service provision and change in incumbent vote share, ...» more
Social norms theory and development economics
Social norms are found in all societies and have great impact on human behaviour. They can be both a hindrance and a help for development, depending on whether or not changes necessary for development fit with existing norms. This paper outlines what social norms are, how they function, and the factors that affect their emergence and change. It highlights how to influence ...» more