IFPRI’s new strategy features Strengthening Institutions and Governance as one of six key research areas and emphasizes the cross-divisional nature of this important topic. In order to enhance awareness of ongoing work in this area, a Strengthening Institutions and Governance (SIG) seminar series will be formally launched this Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 12:30pm EST.  

The first featured speaker will be Phil Keefer, Lead Economist in the Development Research Group of the World Bank, who will be presenting on “Intrinsic Motivation, Effort and the Call to Public Service.” Based on experimental methods in Indonesia, his research asks whether raising public sector pay increases the likelihood of attracting staff with high abilities but low motivation.    

The SIG series will involve regular presentations from academics, researchers, and policy practitioners from within IFPRI, around Washington, DC and across the world. By sharing different methods and theoretical insights from economics, political science, and sociology, the SIG series will address critical questions relevant to better understanding the interaction between governance and development outcomes and highlight potential opportunities for policy intervention. 

For more information on the series or to RSVP for the event, please contact Danielle Resnick.