Sector‐Specific Development and Policy Vulnerability in the Philippines. Issue 3 (31st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ricks, Jacob I.
• Is Part Of: Development and change. Volume 48:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 567
• Page End: 589
• Publication Date: 2017-03-31
• Subjects: Social sciences -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Periodicals; Social change -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Periodicals; 303.483
• DOI: 10.1111/dech.12300
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-155X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Why does a state build institutional capacity in certain sectors rather than others? Despite having gained leverage explaining the emergence of institutions in the developmental states of East Asia, we have comparatively weak accounts for sub‐national variation in institutional strength, a much more common phenomenon. Investigating the surprising achievements of the Philippines' National Irrigation Administration, this article advances a theory of sectoral success in the face of a generally poor developmental record. The author demonstrates that executives will only construct institutional capacity when facing strong political pressure combined with resource scarcity. Such vulnerability permits politicians to exercise discretion in choosing which policies to pursue, allowing them to avoid upsetting their coalitions. Once a politician achieves some degree of policy success, he or she is then able to avoid engaging in similar reforms in other fields. Thus we see pockets of institutional capacity in states that otherwise struggle with developmental tasks.