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Politics, Policies and the Dynamics of Aggregate Productivity in Colombia

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  • Eslava, Marcela
  • Meléndez Arjona, Marcela

Abstract

This paper describes private actors' involvement in Colombia's policymaking process. While more transparent and formal channels are used to discuss horizontal policies, they are also less effective. The adoption of targeted policies, however, follows a faster track and depends more on political power than on those policies¿ potential as engines for productivity growth. Data on policies and political characteristics across sector-region units are used to further characterize the different groups¿ weight in policymaking, and the effect of the implied unbalance on aggregate productivity. Electoral weight and being represented by business groups and associations are found to be important determinants of the policy benefits received by a sector in a region, especially when activities are located in regions affected by armed conflict. It is also found that the resulting imbalance of policies damages aggregate productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Eslava, Marcela & Meléndez Arjona, Marcela, 2009. "Politics, Policies and the Dynamics of Aggregate Productivity in Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 1116, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:1116
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    Cited by:

    1. Eduardo Fernández-Arias & Charles Sabel & Ernesto H. Stein & Alberto Trejos, 2016. "Two to Tango: Public-Private Collaboration for Productive Development Policies," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 94716, February.
    2. Hernando Zuleta, 2021. "Competitividad y entorno institucional en Colombia," Documentos CEDE 19623, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    3. Botero García, Jesús Alonso & Hurtado, Alvaro & Montañez Herrera, Diego Fernando, 2021. "The productivity of the agricultural sector and its effects on economic growth: a CGE analysis," Conference papers 333318, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    4. repec:idb:brikps:7694 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Marcela Meléndez Arjona & Guillermo Perry, 2009. "Industrial policies in Colombia," Working Papers Series. Documentos de Trabajo 9138, Fedesarrollo.
    6. Vicente Germán-Soto & Cesáreo Gámez Garza, 2017. "El ciclo económico de la productividad y su relación con el ciclo político en México, 1993.1 - 2014.4," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 32(1), pages 65-94.
    7. Fernández-Arias, Eduardo & Sabel, Charles & Stein, Ernesto H. & Trejos, Alberto, 2016. "Two to Tango: Public-Private Collaboration for Productive Development Policies," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 7694, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    IDB-WP-101;

    JEL classification:

    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O25 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Industrial Policy
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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