Ugandan MPs winning argument to make Senior Citizens’ Grant national, event hears
30th November 2017: The political discussion about the future of Uganda’s piloted Senior Citizens’ Grant has progressed to how the pension can be introduced nationally, an event heard last night....
Means-testing the UK’s Winter Fuel Allowance: how does this contribute to our understanding of the political economy of social security?
The UK’s Labour Party has recently responded to the Conservative – or in theory, Coalition – government’s attacks on the social security system by trying to prove they can be even tougher. To prove it, they’ve decided to go after one of the UK’s few remaining inclusive benefits and subject...
Pro-Poor Policies and the Rise of an Alienated Middle-Class in Developing Countries
From Turkey to Brazil, the middle-class are out on the streets protesting. In a thought-provoking article, Francis Fukuyama argues that the cause of these protests is a growing middle class with aspirations that are not being realised. As he notes: “Newly arrived members of the middle-class are more likely to be...
Bangladesh: Social Unrest, Elections and a Failed Social Model
Bangladesh has just experienced troubled elections boycotted by the main opposition party, amid strikes and violence. It is not a happy country. Yet, in many respects, since independence the country has made good progress. While many commentators in the 1980s wrote off the country as a basket case, its economy...
The building of an inclusive social protection system for Angola moves forward
The building of an inclusive social protection system for Angola was under discussion at a high-level forum today at which Development Pathways presented. At the event, opened by Angola’s Secretary...
MPs in Uganda make case for universal social protection programme
When discussing the social protection governance in developing countries, we usually focus on the Executive Branch institutions and their role in policy development – as well as the design, implementation and monitoring of schemes – but pay little attention to the role of Parliaments. Nonetheless, as part of their key...
Universal child benefits: The curious case of Mongolia
Up to now, Mongolia has been famous for Genghis Khan, nomadic herders and grand wrestling competitions in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. But, it can now add to its list of fame that it is the only developing nation to introduce universal child benefits! Worldwide, close to one in seven...
The impact of increased migration on the politics of social protection under spotlight
29th November: The politics of social protection and how this is affected by increased migration will be under the spotlight at a University of Cambridge event. The Politics of Social...
Lessons to Be Learned: International Interventions in Timor-Leste
The time has come to learn from international interventions in Timor-Leste: Political economy and conflict analyses must be applied in support of countries in transition. Sitting at a long table in a quiet pedestrian street soaking in the Portuguese sunshine, I recently caught up with a former colleague who was in...
The Political Economy of ‘Targeting’ of Social Security Schemes
Don’t target ‘the poor’ if you really want to help ‘the poor’ In this edition of our Pathways Perspectives, Stephen Kidd examines the evidence on the political economy of ‘targeting’. By...