Details about Michael Woolcock

Homepage:	https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/m/michael-woolcock
Phone:	+1 (202) 473 8068
Postal address:	Development Research Group World Bank G2-116 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 USA
Workplace:	Economics Research, World Bank Group, (more information at EDIRC)

Access statistics for papers by Michael Woolcock.

Last updated 2026-03-09. Update your information in the RePEc Author Service.

Short-id: pwo82

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Working Papers

2025

1. Nearshoring in Hermosillo: Analysis of Economic Growth Opportunities
   Growth Lab Working Papers, Harvard's Growth Lab
2. Process Legitimacy and Development: Analytical Framings, Implications, and Applications
   Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank
3. Ten Consequential and Actionable ‘Social’ Contributions to the Theory, Practice, and Evaluation of Development
   Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank

2024

4. A Learning Agenda for Community-Driven Development: Responding to Complex Contextual, Evaluation, and Inference Challenges
   Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (1)
5. Reconciling Multi-Level Rights-Based Commitments in Development: Assessing the Legal and Administrative Imperatives of Responding to Education, Health Care, and Environment Protection Challenges
   Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank
   See also Journal Article Reconciling Multi-Level Rights-Based Commitments in Development: Assessing the Legal and Administrative Imperatives of Responding to Education, Health Care, and Environment Protection Challenges, The Law and Development Review, De Gruyter (2026) (2026)
6. What Data-Rich Assessments of Socioeconomic Inequality and Mobility in Rich Countries Overlook in Poor Countries
   Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank

2023

7. Examining Business Reform Committees: Findings from a New Global Dataset
   Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank
   See also Journal Article Examining business reform committees: findings from a new global dataset, Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals (2025) (2025)
8. Process and Implementation Evaluations: A Primer
   CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University
9. Responding Adaptively to the COVID-19 Crisis in Indonesia: Insights and Implications from an Indonesian Governance Program
   CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University
10. Social Sustainability and the Development Process: What Is It, Why Does It Matter, and How Can It Be Enhanced ?
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank
    See also Journal Article Social sustainability and the development process: what is it, why does it matter, and how can it be enhanced?, Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals (2025) View citations (1) (2025)

2022

11. Measuring What Matters: Principles for a Balanced Data Suite That Prioritizes Problem-Solving and Learning
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank

2020

12. Toward Successful Development Policies: Insights from Research in Development Economics
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (2)

2019

13. Implementing Adaptive Approaches in Real World Scenarios: A Nigeria Case Study, with Lessons for Theory and Practice
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank
14. Reasons for Using Mixed Methods in the Evaluation of Complex Projects
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University
15. When Do Development Projects Enhance Community Well-Being?
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (5)
16. Why Does Hirschmanian Development Remain Mired on the Margins? Because Implementation (and Reform) Really is 'a Long Voyage of Discovery'
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University

2018

17. Enhancing Public Health Outcomes in Developing Countries: From Good Policies and Best Practices to Better Implementation
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (3)
    Also in Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2018) View citations (3)

2017

18. Documenting Myanmar's social transformation: insights from six rounds of research on livelihoods and social change in rural communities
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank
19. Enhancing the quality of public service delivery: insights from recent research
    Research and Policy Briefs, The World Bank
20. Escaping Capability Traps through Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA)
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (3)
    Also in Working Papers, Center for Global Development (2012) View citations (69)
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard Kennedy School of Government (2012) View citations (72)
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2012) View citations (71)
    WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER) (2012) View citations (60)
    See also Journal Article Escaping Capability Traps Through Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA), World Development, Elsevier (2013) View citations (73) (2013)
21. How (not) to fix problems that matter: assessing and responding to Malawi's history of institutional reform
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (3)

2016

22. Doing Iterative and Adaptive Work
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (3)
23. Managing Your Authorizing Environment in a PDIA Process
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (1)
24. Scaling PDIA through Broad Agency, and Your Role
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University
25. Social Capital, Trust and Well-being in the Evaluation of Wealth
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (10)
    Also in Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank (2016) View citations (6)
26. The Big Stuck in State Capability for Policy Implementation
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University
27. The Middle-Income Trap: Myth or Reality?
    Research and Policy Briefs, The World Bank View citations (5)

2015

28. Doing Problem Driven Work
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (7)
    Also in CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2015) View citations (4)
29. Operationalizing the Science of Delivery Agenda to Enhance Development Results
    World Bank Publications - Reports, The World Bank Group
30. The Challenge of Building (Real) State Capability
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (6)
    Also in CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2015) View citations (6)
31. Trust, Voice, and Incentives: Learning from Local Success Stories in Delivery in MENA
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (6)

2014

32. Culture, Politics, and Development
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (1)
    Also in Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank (2014)
33. Engaging with Fragile and Conflict-Affected States
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (2)
    Also in CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2014) View citations (2)
34. Engaging with Fragile and Conflict-Affected States: An Alternative Approach to Theory, Measurement and Practice
    WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER) View citations (3)
35. Integrating qualitative methods into investment climate impact evaluations
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (1)

2013

36. The projection of development: cinematic representation as an(other) source of authoritative knowledge ?
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (2)
    Also in Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester (2012)
    See also Journal Article The Projection of Development: Cinematic Representation as A(nother) Source of Authoritative Knowledge?, Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals (2013) View citations (2) (2013)
37. Using Case Studies to Explore the External Validity of 'Complex' Development Interventions
    WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER) View citations (30)
    Also in CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2013) View citations (17)
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2013) View citations (35)

2012

38. Looking Like a State: Techniques of Persistent Failure in State Capability for Implementation
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (14)
    Also in WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER) (2012) View citations (10)
    See also Journal Article Looking Like a State: Techniques of Persistent Failure in State Capability for Implementation, Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals (2013) View citations (99) (2013)
39. Role of Law and Justice in Achieving Gender Equality
    World Bank Publications - Reports, The World Bank Group
40. The politics of rule of law systems in developmental states: 'political settlements' as a basis for promoting effective justice institutions for marginalized groups
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (1)

2011

41. Intersubjective meaning and collective action in'fragile'societies: theory, evidence and policy implications
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (4)

2010

42. Capability Traps? The Mechanisms of Persistent Implementation Failure - Working Paper 234
    Working Papers, Center for Global Development View citations (70)
43. How and why does history matter for development policy ?
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (9)
    Also in Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester (2009) View citations (3)
    See also Journal Article How and Why Does History Matter for Development Policy?, Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals (2011) View citations (18) (2011)
44. Using mixed methods in monitoring and evaluation: experiences from international development
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (28)
    Also in Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester (2009) View citations (1)

2009

45. Global Poverty and Inequality: A Brief Retrospective and Prospective Analysis
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester
46. Interim Institutions and the Development Process: Opening Spaces for Reform in Cambodia and Indonesia
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (25)
47. Towards a Plurality of Methods in Project Evaluation: A Contextualised Approach to Understanding Impact Trajectories and Efficacy
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (17)
    See also Journal Article Toward a plurality of methods in project evaluation: a contextualised approach to understanding impact trajectories and efficacy, Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals (2009) View citations (17) (2009)

2008

48. Arrested Development: The Political Origins and Socio-Economic Foundations of Common Violence in Jamaica
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (3)
49. Legal Pluralism and Equity
    World Bank Publications - Reports, The World Bank Group View citations (1)
50. The Fiction of Development: Literary Representation as a Source of Authoritative Knowledge
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (11)
    See also Journal Article The Fiction of Development: Literary Representation as a Source of Authoritative Knowledge, Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals (2008) View citations (10) (2008)
51. Toward an Economic Sociology of Chronic Poverty: Enhancing the Rigor and Relevance of Social Theory
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences

2007

52. A Relational Approach to the Theory and Practices of Economic Development
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (2)
53. Breaking Legal Inequality Traps: New Approaches to Building Justice Systems for the Poor in Developing Countries
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (1)
54. Empowerment, Deliberative Development and Local Level Politics in Indonesia: Participatory Projects as a Source of Countervailing Power
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (1)
55. Local conflict and development projects in Indonesia: part of the problem or part of a solution ?
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (13)
56. Using Mixed Methods to Assess Social Capital in Low Income Countries: A Practical Guide
    Global Development Institute Working Paper Series, GDI, The University of Manchester View citations (13)

2006

57. Social Cohesion, Institutions, and Growth
    Working Papers, Center for Global Development View citations (192)
    See also Journal Article SOCIAL COHESION, INSTITUTIONS, AND GROWTH, Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell (2006) View citations (183) (2006)

2005

58. Assessing Social Exclusion and Mobility in Brazil
    World Bank Publications - Reports, The World Bank Group
59. Customary Law and Policy Reform: Engaging with the Plurality of Justice Systems
    World Bank Publications - Reports, The World Bank Group
60. Empowerment and local level conflict mediation in Indonesia: a comparative analysis of concepts, measures, and project efficacy
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (7)
61. Governance in the gullies: democratic responsiveness and leadership in Delhi's slums
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (12)
    See also Journal Article Governance in the Gullies: Democratic Responsiveness and Leadership in Delhi's Slums, World Development, Elsevier (2007) View citations (34) (2007)
62. The fiction of development: knowledge, authority and representation
    LSE Research Online Documents on Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library View citations (1)

2004

63. The Varieties of Resource Experience: How Natural Resource Export Structures Affect the Political Economy of Economic Growth
    Middlebury College Working Paper Series, Middlebury College, Department of Economics View citations (10)
    Also in Middlebury College Working Paper Series, Middlebury College, Department of Economics (2003) View citations (121)

2002

64. Solutions when the Solution is the Problem: Arraying the Disarray in Development
    Working Papers, Center for Global Development View citations (10)
    See also Journal Article Solutions When the Solution is the Problem: Arraying the Disarray in Development, World Development, Elsevier (2004) View citations (169) (2004)

2001

65. Small States in a Global Economy: the Role of Institutions in Managing Vulnerability and Opportunity in Small Developing Countries
    WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER) View citations (11)

2000

66. On"good"politicians and"bad"policies - social cohesion, institutions, and growth
    Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (9)

Journal Articles

2026

1. Reconciling Multi-Level Rights-Based Commitments in Development: Assessing the Legal and Administrative Imperatives of Responding to Education, Health Care, and Environment Protection Challenges
   The Law and Development Review, 2026, 19, (1), 73-107
   See also Working Paper Reconciling Multi-Level Rights-Based Commitments in Development: Assessing the Legal and Administrative Imperatives of Responding to Education, Health Care, and Environment Protection Challenges, Policy Research Working Paper Series (2024) (2024)

2025

2. Examining business reform committees: findings from a new global dataset
   Journal of Economic Policy Reform, 2025, 28, (3), 300-327
   See also Working Paper Examining Business Reform Committees: Findings from a New Global Dataset, Policy Research Working Paper Series (2023) (2023)
3. Social sustainability and the development process: what is it, why does it matter, and how can it be enhanced?
   Oxford Development Studies, 2025, 53, (3), 222-237 View citations (1)
   See also Working Paper Social Sustainability and the Development Process: What Is It, Why Does It Matter, and How Can It Be Enhanced ?, Policy Research Working Paper Series (2023) (2023)

2024

4. Book reviews
   The Journal of Economic Inequality, 2024, 22, (4), 1111-1127

2021

5. The Sounds of Development: Musical Representation as A(nother) Source of Development Knowledge
   Journal of Development Studies, 2021, 57, (8), 1397-1412 View citations (1)

2017

6. New Approaches to Identifying State Fragility
   Journal of Globalization and Development, 2017, 8, (1), 10 View citations (2)

2014

7. Conditional, unconditional and everything in between: a systematic review of the effects of cash transfer programmes on schooling outcomes
   Journal of Development Effectiveness, 2014, 6, (1), 1-43 View citations (134)

2013

8. Escaping Capability Traps Through Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA)
   World Development, 2013, 51, (C), 234-244 View citations (73)
   See also Working Paper Escaping Capability Traps through Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA), CID Working Papers (2017) View citations (3) (2017)
9. Intersubjective Meaning and Collective Action in Developing Societies: Theory, Evidence and Policy Implications
   Journal of Development Studies, 2013, 49, (1), 160-172 View citations (2)
10. Looking Like a State: Techniques of Persistent Failure in State Capability for Implementation
    Journal of Development Studies, 2013, 49, (1), 1-18 View citations (99)
    See also Working Paper Looking Like a State: Techniques of Persistent Failure in State Capability for Implementation, CID Working Papers (2012) View citations (14) (2012)
11. Relative Effectiveness of Conditional and Unconditional Cash Transfers for Schooling Outcomes in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review
    Campbell Systematic Reviews, 2013, 9, (1), 1-124 View citations (81)
12. The Projection of Development: Cinematic Representation as A(nother) Source of Authoritative Knowledge?
    Journal of Development Studies, 2013, 49, (3), 383-397 View citations (2)
    See also Working Paper The projection of development: cinematic representation as an(other) source of authoritative knowledge ?, Policy Research Working Paper Series (2013) View citations (2) (2013)

2011

13. How and Why Does History Matter for Development Policy?
    Journal of Development Studies, 2011, 47, (1), 70-96 View citations (18)
    See also Working Paper How and why does history matter for development policy ?, Policy Research Working Paper Series (2010) View citations (9) (2010)

2009

14. The next 10 years in development studies: From modernization to multiple modernities, in theory and practice
    The European Journal of Development Research, 2009, 21, (1), 4-9
15. Toward a plurality of methods in project evaluation: a contextualised approach to understanding impact trajectories and efficacy
    Journal of Development Effectiveness, 2009, 1, (1), 1-14 View citations (17)
    See also Working Paper Towards a Plurality of Methods in Project Evaluation: A Contextualised Approach to Understanding Impact Trajectories and Efficacy, Global Development Institute Working Paper Series (2009) View citations (17) (2009)

2008

16. The Fiction of Development: Literary Representation as a Source of Authoritative Knowledge
    Journal of Development Studies, 2008, 44, (2), 198-216 View citations (10)
    See also Working Paper The Fiction of Development: Literary Representation as a Source of Authoritative Knowledge, Global Development Institute Working Paper Series (2008) View citations (11) (2008)

2007

17. Governance in the Gullies: Democratic Responsiveness and Leadership in Delhi's Slums
    World Development, 2007, 35, (2), 230-246 View citations (34)
    See also Working Paper Governance in the gullies: democratic responsiveness and leadership in Delhi's slums, Policy Research Working Paper Series (2005) View citations (12) (2005)
18. Higher education, policy schools, and development studies: what should masters degree students be taught?
    Journal of International Development, 2007, 19, (1), 55-73 View citations (7)

2006

19. SOCIAL COHESION, INSTITUTIONS, AND GROWTH
    Economics and Politics, 2006, 18, (2), 103-120 View citations (183)
    See also Working Paper Social Cohesion, Institutions, and Growth, Working Papers (2006) View citations (192) (2006)

2005

20. The Varieties of Resource Experience: Natural Resource Export Structures and the Political Economy of Economic Growth
    The World Bank Economic Review, 2005, 19, (2), 141-174 View citations (506)

2004

21. Exploring Social Capital Debates at the World Bank
    Journal of Development Studies, 2004, 40, (5), 33-64 View citations (26)
22. Solutions When the Solution is the Problem: Arraying the Disarray in Development
    World Development, 2004, 32, (2), 191-212 View citations (169)
    See also Working Paper Solutions when the Solution is the Problem: Arraying the Disarray in Development, Working Papers (2002) View citations (10) (2002)

2001

23. Microenterprise and social capital:: A framework for theory, research, and policy
    Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), 2001, 30, (2), 193-198 View citations (23)

2000

24. Social Capital: Implications for Development Theory, Research, and Policy
    The World Bank Research Observer, 2000, 15, (2), 225-49 View citations (605)

Books

2023

1. Social Sustainability in Development
   World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group

2018

2. Alternative Paths to Public Financial Management and Public Sector Reform
   World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group

2017

3. Building State Capability: Evidence, Analysis, Action
   OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press View citations (111)

2015

4. Trust, Voice, and Incentives: Learning from Local Success Stories in Service Delivery in the Middle East and North Africa
   (Confiance, voix au chapitre et mesures incitatives: Tirer des leçons du succès dans la prestation de services au niveau local au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique du Nord)
   World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group View citations (8)

2008

5. Social Exclusion and Mobility in Brazil
   World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group View citations (1)

2004

6. Measuring Social Capital: An Integrated Questionnaire
   World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group View citations (98)