I've been dying to see this paper since Dan Banik first mentioned it - and here it is!

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.

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!

Golden para from Ken Opalo 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.

Pedestrian rights as a global movement Will Norman @mysafetipin ?

Never give up. Etc.

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

Hearing William Dalrymple on BBC Radio 4 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).

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 Mushtaq Khan Prof Liz David-Barrett Stefan Dercon Dan Banik

Having learnt a lot about informal taxation through International Centre for Tax and Development, we are now self appointed 'cheese tax' collectors for the Oxfordshire / Berkshire border. Here at the ever wonderful Pangbourne Cheese Shop

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...

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

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 Philanthropy