State building and social policies in developing countries: the political economy of development

Distribution of and access to public resources such as health, education and employment depend on the nature of the political settlement of a country. The neoliberal policies, especially in post-colonial states across Asia and Africa, could not ensure equitable access to and distribution of these resources for all and contributed to widening of income inequality and poverty. According to Titumir, existing political economy frameworks based on neoclassical orthodoxy can’t ensure a fair and just society as these did not consider how power asymmetry and political settlement in developing countries can result in inefficient distribution of resources. Titumir argues that a new framework for development is indeed necessary which will be based on a public society that is able to countervail the monopoly of power held by the political elites in deciding who gets what accompanied by a conscious citizenry based on universal healthcare and education; an enabling state that values citizenship and wider employment opportunities via enhanced productive capacities and skill transfer across borders.