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Skill versus Voice in Local Development

Author

Listed:
  • Casey, Katherine
  • Glennerster, Rachel
  • Miguel, Edward
  • Voors, Maarten
Abstract
Where the state is weak, traditional authorities control the local provision of public goods. These leaders come from an older, less educated generation and often rule in an authoritarian and exclusionary fashion. This means the skills of community members may not be leveraged in policy making. We experimentally evaluate two solutions to this problem in Sierra Leone: one encourages delegation to higher skill individuals and a second fosters broader inclusion in decision-making. In a real-world infrastructure grants competition, a public nudge to delegate lead to better outcomes than the default of chiefly control, whereas attempts to boost participation were largely ineffective.

Suggested Citation

  • Casey, Katherine & Glennerster, Rachel & Miguel, Edward & Voors, Maarten, 2021. "Skill versus Voice in Local Development," CEPR Discussion Papers 15694, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15694
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    2. Michael Callen & Jonathan Weigel & Noam Yuchtman & Michael J. Callen, 2023. "Experiments about Institutions," CESifo Working Paper Series 10833, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Governance; Human capital; Delegation; Traditional authority; Foreign aid; Community driven development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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