"An introduction to the contemporary challenges states in the developing world face, and to the ways in which they can build capacity to handle them. It examines the key institutions of the state, the challenges of institutional reform, and the importance of institutional reform in achieving...

Timothy Besley brings together a set of essays on themes relevant to the study of economic development written by leading authors. It covers a range of topics many of which are relevant to policy issues. In many cases, the authors bring new insights from empirical research in a range of economies