BENEATH THE SURFACE : UNRAVELING THE WEB OF INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS AND ELITE CAPTURE IN SHAPING PAKISTAN’S DEVELOPMENT TRAJECTORY

Abstract

Pakistan's development trajectory still suffers from basic institutional deficiencies and mass influence of elite capture. Although there are formal governance processes in place, the efficacy of these is marred by elite dominance, patron-client networks, and rent-seeking behaviour, which all distort the process of creating policies, distributing resources and providing public services. With particular attention to the dynamics of political economy, governance failures and socioeconomic consequences, this study explores the nexus of institutional shortcomings and elite capture and how this impacts development outcomes in Pakistan. It makes the case that elite capture will continue to hamper inclusive growth and equitable development unless key issues of institutional reform and accountability mechanisms are addressed through strong institutional oversight and accountability mechanisms, based on recent empirical research and governance diagnostic evaluations.