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Whatever Inconsistencies and Effects? Explaining the Resilience of the Policy Reforms Applied to Developing Countries

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  • Alice N. Sindzingre

Abstract

Why is 'neoliberalism' still a predominant framework within economics and policy-making? This paper considers the mix of theoretical assumptions, causalities and policies known as the 'Washington consensus', focusing on developing countries. First, it analyses their main elements, resilience and effects (the 'lost decades in spite of policy reform'). Second, it examines the reasons of this resilience and argues that a reason is their adaptive capacity via constant exchanges between facts and conceptual assumptions, because this mix is constituted of heterogeneous elements (from neoclassical theory, ad hoc models or empirics-based policy-making): inconsistency is a core feature and as such its correction is irrelevant. These 'adaptive inconsistencies' are consolidated by the simultaneous theoretical/policy dimension of the mix. Its cognitive resilience is reinforced by the irrefutability of causations and the cause/effect time lag ('after current costs, there will be gains', e.g. growth), and is not challenged by the social costs of policies.

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  • Alice N. Sindzingre, 2015. "Whatever Inconsistencies and Effects? Explaining the Resilience of the Policy Reforms Applied to Developing Countries," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 159-178, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:fosoec:v:44:y:2015:i:2:p:159-178
    DOI: 10.1080/07360932.2014.951378
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    Cited by:

    1. Alice Nicole Sindzingre, 2015. "‘Policy Externalisation’ Inherent Failure: International Financial Institutions’ Conditionality in Developing Countries," Post-Print hal-01668363, HAL.
    2. Alice Sindzingre, 2021. "Assessing the Concept of Change in International Financial Institutions' Theories and Policies: The Example of Sub-Saharan African Countries," Post-Print halshs-03625137, HAL.
    3. Alice Nicole Sindzingre, 2016. "From an Eroding Model to Questioned Trade Relationships: The European Union and Sub-Saharan Africa," Insight on Africa, , vol. 8(2), pages 81-95, July.

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