Government Capabilities in Latin America: Why They Are So Important, What We Know about Them, and What to Do Next

Abstract

This policy brief takes stock of the research on government capabilities undertaken at the Inter-American Development Bank, highlights the relevance of government capabilities for generating better policies and higher levels of development, summarizes what has been learned about the origins of those capabilities, suggests avenues for further exploration, and derives lessons (and caveats) for institutional reforms and for the operational work of the Bank.