Failed States, Vicious Cycles, and a Proposal

14 Pages Posted: 27 Apr 2011

See all articles by Raghuram G. Rajan

Raghuram G. Rajan

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business; International Monetary Fund (IMF); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: March 2, 2011

Abstract

Rajan examines the problems of failed states, including the repeated return to power of former warlords, which he argues causes institutions to become weaker and people to get poorer. He notes that economic power through property holdings or human capital gives people the means to hold their leaders accountable. In the absence of such distributed power, dictators reign. Rajan argues that in failed states, economic growth leading to empowered citizenry is more likely if a neutral party presides. He proposes a unique solution to allow the electorate to choose a foreigner, who would govern for a fixed term. Candidates could be proposed by the UN or retired leaders from other countries; they would campaign on a platform to build the basic foundations of government and create a sustainable distribution of power. Rajan emphasizes that this is not a return to the colonial model – the external candidate (like all the others) would be on a ballot and the electorate would choose whether he or she was their best chance to escape fragility.

Keywords: failed states, institutions, economic power, human capital, governmental accountability

Suggested Citation

Rajan, Raghuram G., Failed States, Vicious Cycles, and a Proposal (March 2, 2011). Center for Global Development Working Paper No. 243, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1824642 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1824642

Raghuram G. Rajan (Contact Author)

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