What are Institutions?

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2006

Document Type:: Briefing
Theme:: Economic Growth
Authors:: Leftwich, A.

Abstract

There is now widespread consensus that institutions matter crucially for development, but what are 'institutions'? This briefing discusses institutions in general considering (1) how institutions are established, maintained and changed; and (2) how the many and varied social, economic and political institutions, both formal and informal, interact with each other - within and between societies, in complementary or conflicting ways, to promote or hinder pro-poor growth and development.

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