Merit-based selection of bureaucrats is central to state capacity building, yet rare in developing countries. Most executives instead favor patronage--political discretion--in public employment. This paper proposes and tests an original theory to explain when executives forsake patronage for...

This paper discusses the organizational structure and technical, operational and political capabilities required for successful productive development policies (PDPs). It also discusses how countries can match their PDPs to existing capabilities, as well as expand their capabilities in the long...

Este documento presenta la evaluación de impacto de corto plazo de un programa de erradicación de la mosca de la fruta en las áreas costeras de Perú. Aprovechando la variación arbitraria en las fronteras de intervención del programa, así como datos precisos de la ubicación geográfica de...

This paper estimates the trade, revenue, and welfare effects of the proposed Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-Canada free trade agreement (FTA) on CARICOM countries using a partial equilibrium model. The welfare analysis also takes into account the Economic Partnership Agreement, which was signed...

This paper explores the development of public sector capabilities for Productive Development Policies in Costa Rica through four case studies of successful experiences, with less successful cases presented as counterfactuals. To some extent the paper tests the Technical, Organizational and...

Using the Colombian Annual Manufacturing Survey (EAM) between 2000 and 2013, this paper investigates the existence of heterogeneity in the labor demand within the industrial sector. Long run own-price, output and TFP elasticities vary across a variety of dimensions such as regions, sectors and...