Abstract
Many post-conflict states, despite large-scale development aid, continue to experience chronic underdevelopment. This research will use institutional economics and the example of Kosovo to examine the relationship between institutional structures and economic insecurity, as an indicator of development outcomes. This paper argues that while Kosovo’s parallel institutional structure is quite unique, the structure and uncertain nature of Kosovo’s post-conflict institutions make them weak which is a source of economic insecurity which undermines development efforts. This paper also refutes some of the primacy given to formal institutions as a source of development and concludes that the makeup of formal and informal institutions in Kosovo proves to have a somewhat complex relationship to economic insecurity and further to overall development outcomes. The paper concludes that a focus on developing the quality of institutions in Kosovo may be an effective development policy as it could help to decrease economic insecurity.
Résumé
De nombreux États en sortie de conflit restent en situation de sous-développement chronique en dépit d’une aide au développement apportée à grande échelle. Cette étude se sert de l'économie institutionnelle et de l'exemple du Kosovo pour examiner la relation entre les structures institutionnelles et l'insécurité économique comme indicateur des résultats obtenus en matière de développement. Cet article fait valoir que, bien que la structure institutionnelle parallèle du Kosovo soit tout à fait unique, la structure et la nature incertaine des institutions qui datent d’après le conflit au Kosovo les affaiblissent, et représentent une source d’insécurité économique qui mine les efforts de développement. Cet article refuse également en partie d’accorder la primauté aux institutions formelles en tant que source de développement et conclut que la composition des institutions formelles et informelles au Kosovo s'avère avoir une relation quelque peu complexe avec l'insécurité économique et, au-delà, avec les résultats globaux obtenus en matière de développement. L’article conclut que le fait de se concentrer sur le développement de la qualité des institutions au Kosovo peut être une politique de développement efficace car elle pourrait contribuer à réduire l'insécurité économique.
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The funding was provided by Rotary International, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge and Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarship.
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Kauf, N. Exploring the Effects of Weak Institutions on Economic Insecurity in Kosovo. Eur J Dev Res 33, 2063–2083 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-020-00344-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-020-00344-2