Friday🧵& Substack Essay.Gambling on corruption vs. practical politics for all. In 'mainstream development' (big budget health, education, climate, growth), being the 'whaddabout the politics?' guy can be lonely. Saying 'political economy' can also annoy/confuse. 1/11

I have to admit to being a dyed-in-the-wool development dinosaur with late onset growth-o-philia. Growth <really> matters. A really exciting new role created at @open_phil.

This is well worth a listen. and should make us think hard about 'elites' (global and national) when we say 'SDGs' from here on.

Lead article on Bangladesh is gripping but grim: a reminder that global education keeps ignoring warnings that politics really does matter - politicians, ministries of ed, teacher unions - act in own interest, & drag down results. 😁Flattered to be mentioned further down. .

Having learnt a lot about informal taxation through @ICTDTax, we are now self appointed 'cheese tax' collectors for the Oxfordshire / Berkshire border. Here at the ever wonderful @PangCheeseShop

This is 'wow!'. Highly organised political corruption dogs the power sector in many countries - all along chain from generation to consumer. This is a great quantification of the mechanisms and negative impacts. Cc @mushtaqkhan100 @LizDavidBarrett @gamblingondev .@danbanik.

Ps the new RCTs complemented a wide range of other research methods in conflict, peace etc.

Great to see Peace and Recovery gather such momentum - when we wrote the @DFID_UK submission for round 1, some doubted whether there were enough suitable interventions to test. @poverty_action 's flexibility in types of grant helped get things rolling / build the field- now look!.

Hearing @DalrympleWill on @BBCRadio4 today talk about ancient India's amazing contribution to mathmatics - reminded me of my 5 year effort to see what was then 'ground zero' of zero - in Gwalior. (Our kids were very patient).

A handy review / summary of Bangladesh economic challenges - and good links.

Never give up. Etc.

Especially for the power of youth - and how their lack of traditional organisation is a strength when dominant, autocratic elites go after traditional organisations (and this 'strongman/woman playbook is infectious). 2/2.

If you care about, or are curious about, whether/how 'political economy' matters in growth, stability, development then this is a must read on Bangladesh. But relevant for elsewhere. 1/2.

Pedestrian rights as a global movement @willnorman @mysafetipin ?.

Golden para from @kopalo. Decades of sensible (expensive, often aid funded) Technical Assistance on PFM has fallen short. Something else- Political, and political economy reality- is going on. Wrecks of well intentioned, but politically naive, TA often visible. Time for change.

A <highlight> of my year. Dan is a great host & it was really gratifying to get feedback from listeners who are not typical audience for political economy thinking. At the end I pitched the 'big idea' for public good, plain language political econ analysis. launching soon!.

Witchcraft (for want of better name).What jumps out is tension between generic international medicine of governance & accountability- consult, share info, transparency- & belief that these very things attract envy, disruption. Another realm to add to political economy & context.

I've been dying to see this paper since @danbanik first mentioned it - and here it is!.

*of course, if pedestrian protection is zero, disability inclusion and accessibility is well below this. 4/4.

Adding to my growing list of . 'if I could start again, I would focus on this'. Part motivated by walking here with my (now young adult) kids. They grew up in Delhi but we are out of practice in urban pedestrian scrambling. If we succumb to an auto we turn private menace. 3/4.

Public planning is bad, and then directly undermined by myriad private interests (SUVs, cars scooters on pavement), & abuse and capture of public space, & pavements. Neglected? Tractable? Important?. *part of top green box here by @OurWorldInData . 2/4.