Dealing with Politics for Money and Power in Infrastructure

Benitez, Daniel; Estache, Antonio; Soreide, Tina

dc.creator	Benitez, Daniel
dc.creator	Estache, Antonio
dc.creator	Soreide, Tina
dc.date	2012-03-19T18:42:31Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T18:42:31Z
dc.date	2010-10-01
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-17T21:06:18Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-17T21:06:18Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20101025084550
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3938
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/244908
dc.description	Policy recommendations for infrastructure provision usually build on a well-established understanding of best practice for sector governance. Too rarely are they adapted to the country-specific political environment even if this is an area where policy choices are likely to be subject to private agendas in politics. The fact that such private agendas are often ignored goes a long way toward explaining why infrastructure policies fail and why best practice can be counterproductive. While non-benevolence and rent-seeking are well described in the literature and anecdotes abound, there is only limited consideration of how the different incentive problems in politics impede policy improvements in infrastructure. This paper addresses why politics in infrastructure cannot be ignored, drawing on theoretical results and a systematic review of experiences. It reviews how different private agendas in politics will have different impacts for sector-governance decisions -- and hence service delivery. The concept of best practice in policy recommendations should be reconsidered in a wide perspective and allow for tailored solutions based on an understanding of the given incentive problems. Policy recommendations should take into account how coordination trade-offs may complicate efforts to reduce the possible impact of private agendas on infrastructure policy decisions. Although more transparency linked to service delivery indicators is a "safe" recommendation, it is also clear that the demand for good governance will not be sufficient to secure political accountability in a sector with huge vested interests combined with complicated funding schemes and complex contracts.
dc.language	English
dc.relation	Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5455
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ACCESS TO INFORMATION
dc.subject	ACCOUNTABILITY
dc.subject	ACCOUNTING
dc.subject	AIRPORTS
dc.subject	ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
dc.subject	ANTI-CORRUPTION
dc.subject	ASSETS
dc.subject	BASIC SERVICE
dc.subject	BEST PRACTICE
dc.subject	BEST PRACTICES
dc.subject	BRIBE
dc.subject	BRIBERY
dc.subject	BRIBES
dc.subject	BUREAUCRATIC CORRUPTION
dc.subject	CASH TRANSFERS
dc.subject	CITIZEN
dc.subject	CIVIL SERVANTS
dc.subject	CIVIL SOCIETY
dc.subject	CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
dc.subject	COLLUSION
dc.subject	COMMON LAW
dc.subject	CONDITIONALITY
dc.subject	CONGESTION
dc.subject	CONGESTION PRICING
dc.subject	CONSENSUS
dc.subject	CONSTITUENCY
dc.subject	CONSTITUTION
dc.subject	CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN
dc.subject	CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES
dc.subject	CORRUPT
dc.subject	CORRUPT OFFICIALS
dc.subject	CORRUPT POLITICIANS
dc.subject	CORRUPTION
dc.subject	CRIMINAL
dc.subject	CRONIES
dc.subject	DATA COLLECTION
dc.subject	DECENTRALIZATION
dc.subject	DECISION MAKING
dc.subject	DECISION-MAKERS
dc.subject	DECISION-MAKING
dc.subject	DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES
dc.subject	DECREES
dc.subject	DEMOCRACIES
dc.subject	DEMOCRACY
dc.subject	DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES
dc.subject	DEMOCRATIC REGIMES
dc.subject	DEMOCRATIZATION
dc.subject	DEREGULATION
dc.subject	DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
dc.subject	DICTATORSHIP
dc.subject	DISCLOSURE
dc.subject	DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
dc.subject	DRIVERS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	ECONOMICS
dc.subject	ECONOMISTS
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL INFORMATION
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL STUDIES
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTS
dc.subject	EXECUTIVE POWER
dc.subject	EXPENDITURES
dc.subject	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
dc.subject	FISCAL RESOURCES
dc.subject	FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
dc.subject	FOREIGN INVESTORS
dc.subject	FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
dc.subject	FOREIGN POLICY
dc.subject	FRAUD
dc.subject	FREE PRESS
dc.subject	FREEDOM OF SPEECH
dc.subject	FUEL
dc.subject	FUEL COSTS
dc.subject	GOOD GOVERNANCE
dc.subject	GOVERNANCE INDICATORS
dc.subject	GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS
dc.subject	GOVERNANCE PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	GOVERNANCE REFORMS
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT LEVEL
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT STATISTICS
dc.subject	HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	HIGHWAYS
dc.subject	HUMAN CAPITAL
dc.subject	HUMAN RIGHTS
dc.subject	IDEOLOGIES
dc.subject	INEQUALITY
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE POLICIES
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE REFORM
dc.subject	INITIATIVE
dc.subject	INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
dc.subject	INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
dc.subject	JUDICIARY
dc.subject	JUSTICE
dc.subject	LABOR UNIONS
dc.subject	LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
dc.subject	LAWS
dc.subject	LEADERSHIP
dc.subject	LEGAL FRAMEWORK
dc.subject	LEGISLATION
dc.subject	LOBBYING
dc.subject	LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subject	MARKET COMPETITION
dc.subject	MARKET POWER
dc.subject	MEDIA
dc.subject	MINISTER
dc.subject	MINISTERS
dc.subject	MONOPOLIES
dc.subject	MONOPOLY
dc.subject	MOTIVATIONS
dc.subject	NATIONAL LEVEL
dc.subject	NATIONALIZATION
dc.subject	NATURAL RESOURCES
dc.subject	PARLIAMENT
dc.subject	PATRONAGE
dc.subject	PETTY CORRUPTION
dc.subject	POLICY DECISIONS
dc.subject	POLICY INTERVENTION
dc.subject	POLICY MAKERS
dc.subject	POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY
dc.subject	POLITICAL AGENDA
dc.subject	POLITICAL AUTHORITY
dc.subject	POLITICAL COMPETITION
dc.subject	POLITICAL CONTROL
dc.subject	POLITICAL CORRUPTION
dc.subject	POLITICAL ECONOMY
dc.subject	POLITICAL INFLUENCE
dc.subject	POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
dc.subject	POLITICAL INTERFERENCE
dc.subject	POLITICAL LEADERS
dc.subject	POLITICAL PARTIES
dc.subject	POLITICAL POWER
dc.subject	POLITICAL RISK
dc.subject	POLITICIAN
dc.subject	POLITICIANS
dc.subject	POPULISM
dc.subject	PORK BARREL
dc.subject	POTENTIAL INVESTORS
dc.subject	PRESENT VALUE
dc.subject	PRESIDENTS
dc.subject	PRIME MINISTER
dc.subject	PRIVATIZATION
dc.subject	PROCUREMENT
dc.subject	PRODUCTION COSTS
dc.subject	PROPAGANDA
dc.subject	PROPERTY RIGHTS
dc.subject	PUBLIC FINANCING
dc.subject	PUBLIC GOOD
dc.subject	PUBLIC GOODS
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEARINGS
dc.subject	PUBLIC INVESTMENT
dc.subject	PUBLIC OPINION
dc.subject	PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS
dc.subject	PUBLIC SECTOR
dc.subject	PUBLIC SERVICE
dc.subject	PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY
dc.subject	REGULATORY AGENCY
dc.subject	REGULATORY AUTHORITY
dc.subject	REGULATORY BODY
dc.subject	REGULATORY CAPTURE
dc.subject	REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
dc.subject	REGULATORY INSTITUTIONS
dc.subject	REGULATORY MEASURES
dc.subject	RESEARCH AGENDA
dc.subject	RESOURCE CURSE
dc.subject	RISK OF CORRUPTION
dc.subject	ROAD
dc.subject	ROAD MAINTENANCE
dc.subject	ROADS
dc.subject	SANCTION
dc.subject	SANCTIONS
dc.subject	SANITATION
dc.subject	SECTORAL POLICIES
dc.subject	SECURITIES
dc.subject	SEPARATION OF POWERS
dc.subject	SERVICE DELIVERY
dc.subject	SOCIAL COSTS
dc.subject	SOCIAL PROGRAM
dc.subject	SOVEREIGNTY
dc.subject	STATE REVENUES
dc.subject	STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES
dc.subject	SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	TAX
dc.subject	TAX BASE
dc.subject	TAX BURDEN
dc.subject	TAX REGIME
dc.subject	TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS
dc.subject	THEFT
dc.subject	TOLL
dc.subject	TOLL ROADS
dc.subject	TRAFFIC
dc.subject	TRANSPARENCY
dc.subject	TRANSPORT
dc.subject	TRANSPORT SECTOR
dc.subject	TRANSPORT SERVICES
dc.subject	TRANSPORTATION
dc.subject	TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
dc.subject	TRUE
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
dc.subject	URBAN TRANSPORT
dc.subject	VESTED INTERESTS
dc.subject	VOTING
dc.subject	WAGES
dc.subject	WEALTH
dc.subject	WHITE ELEPHANTS
dc.subject	WILLINGNESS TO PAY
dc.title	Dealing with Politics for Money and Power in Infrastructure
dc.type	Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
dc.coverage	The World Region
dc.coverage	The World Region