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Crowd of Black Lives Matters demonstrators marching in the street.
Feature: The Democratic Necessity of Reckoning

Erica Chenoweth reviews scholarship that overwhelmingly shows the Black Lives Matter movement generated high levels of public awareness about systemic racism and increased support for criminal justice reform.

Electronic stock ticker board with numbers and arabic letters.
Feature: Against Rule-of-Thumb Economics

Dani Rodrik argues against neoliberalism’s universal rule-of-thumb approach and for economic analyses grounded in contextual dependencies.

Several hands of team members covering one another in a huddle above a work table.
Feature: Leaders’ Psychological Bravery

Dana Born explores what skills leaders need to cultivate psychological safety on their teams and across their organizations.

Dollars and Euros piled on top of one another.
Feature: Dollar vs. Euro as International Reserve Currencies

Jeffrey Frankel explores the strengths and weaknesses of using the Dollar and the Euro as international reserve currencies.

Harvard Kennedy School faculty disseminate their research in working publications and papers that contribute to public knowledge and fuel policy innovation. This list features recent faculty publications, including journal articles, books, edited volumes, research papers, and public testimony.

Faculty Publications

In the Shadow of Quetzalcoatl: Zelia Nuttall and the Search for Mexico’s Ancient Civilizations

Grindle, Merilee. In the Shadow of Quetzalcoatl: Zelia Nuttall and the Search for Mexico’s Ancient Civilizations. Harvard University Press, 2023.

Politics and Policy Implementation in the Third World

Grindle, Merilee S. Politics and Policy Implementation in the Third World, 2. Princeton University Press, 2017.

Good Governance, RIP: A Critique and an Alternative

Grindle, Merilee S. "Good Governance, RIP: A Critique and an Alternative." Governance 30.1 (January 2017): 17-22.

Democracy and Clientelism: How Uneasy a Relationship?

Grindle, Merilee S. "Democracy and Clientelism: How Uneasy a Relationship?" Review of Clientelism, Social Policy and the Quality of Democracy Clientelism in Everyday Latin American Politics; Mobilizing Poor Voters: Machine Politics, Clientelism & Social Networks in Argentina, by Diego Abente Brun, Larry Diamond, Tina Hilgers, Mariela Szwarcberg. Latin American Research Review, 51.3, 2016: 241-249.

Jobs for the Boys

Grindle, Merilee S. Jobs for the Boys. Harvard University Press, 2012.

Through a Glass Darkly: Reflecting on Bolivia

Hilderbrand, Mary E.and Merilee S. Grindle. "Through a Glass Darkly: Reflecting on Bolivia." ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America (Fall 2011): 6-8.

Governance Reform: The New Analytics of Next Steps

Grindle, Merilee S. "Governance Reform: The New Analytics of Next Steps." Governance: An International Journal of Policy, Administration, and Institutions 24.3 (July 2011): 415-418.

Good Enough Governance Revisited

Grindle, Merilee S. "Good Enough Governance Revisited." Development Policy Review 29.Supplement (January 2011): s199-s221.

Review of Local Governments and Rural Development: Comparing Lessons from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Peru

Grindle, Merilee S. Review of Local Governments and Rural Development: Comparing Lessons from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Peru, by Krister Andersson, Gustavo Gordillo de Anda, and Frank van Laerhoven. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 29.4, October 2010: 547-549.

Social Policy in Development: Coherence and Cooperation in the Real World

Grindle, Merilee S. "Social Policy in Development: Coherence and Cooperation in the Real World." Background paper for The World Economic and Social Survey 2010. United Nations, 2010.

Good Governance: The Inflation of an Idea

Grindle, Merilee S. "Good Governance: The Inflation of an Idea." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP10-023, June 2010.

Social Policy in Development:
Coherence and Cooperation in the Real World

Grindle, Merilee S. "Social Policy in Development: Coherence and Cooperation in the Real World." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP10-024, June 2010.

Constructing, Deconstructing, and Reconstructing Career Civil Service Systems in Latin America

Grindle, Merilee S. "Constructing, Deconstructing, and Reconstructing Career Civil Service Systems in Latin America." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP10-025, June 2010.

Sanctions, Benefits, and Rights: Three Faces of Accountability

Grindle, Merilee S. "Sanctions, Benefits, and Rights: Three Faces of Accountability." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP10-026, June 2010.

Going Local: Decentralization, Democratization, and the Promise of Good Governance

Grindle, Merilee S. Going Local: Decentralization, Democratization, and the Promise of Good Governance. Princeton University Press, 2009.

Demanding a Supply of Good Government: A Coalition for the Reform of the State?

Grindle, Merilee S. Demanding a Supply of Good Government: A Coalition for the Reform of the State? Leadership and Governance in Small States: Getting Development Right. Ed. Winston Dookeran and Akhil Malaki. VDM Verlag, 2009.

Paths Toward Good Governance Los Caminos Hacia un Buen Gobierno

Grindle, Merilee S. "Paths Toward Good Governance", published in Spanish as, "Los Caminos Hacia un Buen Gobierno." Buen Gobierno y Función Pública 125 (2009).

The Implementation Gap La brecha de la implementación

Grindle, Merilee S. The Implementation Gap, published in Spanish as, La Brecha de la Implementación. Política pública y democracia en América Latina: Del análisis a la implementación. Ed. Freddy Mariñez and Vidal Garza. Miguel Angel Porrúa, 2009.

Under the Bridge

Grindle, Merilee S. "Under the Bridge." ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America. Winter 2009.

Good Enough Governance Revisited.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Good Enough Governance Revisited." Development Policy Review 25.5 (September 2007): 533-574.

Reform Despite the Odds: Improving Quality in Education.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Reform Despite the Odds: Improving Quality in Education." Revista Pensamiento Educativo 40.1 (June 2007): 131-152.

Local Governments that Perform Well: Four Explanations.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Local Governments that Perform Well: Four Explanations." Decentralizing Governance: Emerging Concepts and Practices. Ed. G. Shabbir Cheema and Dennis A. Rondinelli. Brookings Institution, 2007, 56-74.

When Good Policies Go Bad, Then What? Dislodging Exhausted Industrial and Education Policies in Latin America.

Grindle, Merilee S. "When Good Policies Go Bad, Then What? Dislodging Exhausted Industrial and Education Policies in Latin America." Development Success: Statecraft in the South. Ed. Anthony Bebbington and Willy McCourt. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

Going Local: Decentralization, Democratization, and the Promise of Good Governance

Grindle, Merilee S. Going Local: Decentralization, Democratization, and the Promise of Good Governance. Princeton University Press, 2007.

Modernizing Town Hall: Capacity Building with a Political Twist.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Modernizing Town Hall: Capacity Building with a Political Twist." Public Administration and Development 26.1 (February 2006): 55-69.

Strengthening Philanthropy and Civil Society Through Policy Reform: From Proposals to Action.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Strengthening Philanthropy and Civil Society Through Policy Reform: From Proposals to Action." Philanthropy and Social Change in Latin America. Ed. Cynthia Sanborn and Felipe Portocarrero. Harvard University Press (subsequently published in Spanish), 2006.

Review of Transforming Latin America: The International and Domestic Origins of Change

Grindle, Merilee S. Review of Transforming Latin America: The International and Domestic Origins of Change, by Craig Arceneaux and David Pion-Berlin Journal of Latin American Studies, 38.3 August 2006: 664-666.

Review of Decentralization and Democracy in Latin America

Grindle, Merilee S. Review of Decentralization and Democracy in Latin America, Ed. Alfred P. Montero and David J. Samuels. Journal of Latin American Studies, 37.01 February 2005: 191-191.

Good Enough Governance: From Concept to Practice.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Good Enough Governance: From Concept to Practice." Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, 2005.

Mexican Politics in Transition.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Mexican Politics in Transition." Third World Politics at the Crossroads. Ed. William A. Joseph, Mark Kesselman and Joel Krieger. D.C. Heath, 2005, 143-199.

Decentralization and the Promise of Good Governance (in Spanish).

Grindle, Merilee S. "Decentralization and the Promise of Good Governance" (in Spanish). Políticas Públicas (Mexico) 1.1 (2006).

Good Enough Governance: Poverty Reduction and Reform in Developing Countries.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Good Enough Governance: Poverty Reduction and Reform in Developing Countries." Governance 17.4 (October 2004): 525-548.

Despite the Odds: The Contentious Politics of Education Reform

Grindle, Merilee. Despite the Odds: The Contentious Politics of Education Reform. Princeton University Press, 2004.

Interests, Institutions, and Reformers: The Politics of Education Decentralization in Mexico.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Interests, Institutions, and Reformers: The Politics of Education Decentralization in Mexico." Crucial Needs, Weak Incentives: Social Sector Reform, Democratization, and Globalization in Latin America. Ed. Robert Kaufman and Joan M. Nelson. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004.

Review of Governance Resource Center, Institute of Development Studies

Grindle, Merilee S. Review of Governance Resource Center, Institute of Development Studies . Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, 2003.

The Good, the Bad, and the Unavoidable: Improving the Public Service in Poor Countries.

Grindle, Merilee S. "The Good, the Bad, and the Unavoidable: Improving the Public Service in Poor Countries." For the People: Can We Fix Public Service? Ed. John D. Donahue and Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Brookings Institution, 2003.

Proclaiming Revolution: Bolivia in Comparative Perspective

Grindle, Merilee S., and Pilar Domingo, eds. Proclaiming Revolution: Bolivia in Comparative Perspective. Institute of Latin American Studies, 2003.

Mexico.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Mexico." Introduction to Comparative Politics (3rd edition). Ed. Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger and WIlliam A. Joseph. Houghton Mifflin, 2003, 463-512.

1952 and All That: The Bolivian Revolution in Comparative Perspective.

Grindle, Merilee S. "1952 and All That: The Bolivian Revolution in Comparative Perspective." Proclaiming Revolution: Bolivia in Comparative Perspective. Ed. Merilee S. Grindle and Pilar Domingo. Harvard University Press, 2003.

Shadowing the Past? Policy Reform in Bolivia, 1985-2002.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Shadowing the Past? Policy Reform in Bolivia, 1985-2002." Proclaiming Revolution: Bolivia in Comparative Perspective. Ed. Merilee S. Grindle and Pilar Domingo. Harvard University Press, 2003.

Review of Reforming the State: Managerial Public Administration in Latin America

Grindle, Merilee S. Review of Reforming the State: Managerial Public Administration in Latin America, Ed. Bresser Pereia and Peter Spink. Journal of Latin American Studies, 34.01 February 2002: 165-218.

Review of Towards Democratic Viability

Grindle, Merilee S. Review of Towards Democratic Viability, Ed. John Crabtree and Laurence Whitehead. Journal of Latin American Studies, 34.02 May 2002: 427-477.

“Mexico Transitions: Struggling Toward Democracy.”

Grindle, Merilee S. “Mexico Transitions: Struggling Toward Democracy.” ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America II.1 (Fall 2002): 44-46.

“Commentary.”

Grindle, Merilee S. “Commentary.” Latinos: Remaking America. Ed. Marcelo M. Suárez-Lrozco and Mariela M. Páez. University of California Press, 2002, 146-150.

“Despite the Odds: The Political Economy of Social Sector Reform in Latin America.”

Grindle, Merilee S. “Despite the Odds: The Political Economy of Social Sector Reform in Latin America.” Exclusion and Engagement: Social Policy in Latin America. Ed. Christopher Abel and Colin M. Lewis. University of London, 2002, 83-110.

“Mexican Politics in Transition.”

Grindle, Merilee S. “Mexican Politics in Transition.” Third World Politics at the Crossroads. Ed. William A. Joseph, Mark Kesselman, and Joel Krieger. Heath, 2002, 143-199.

Good Enough Governance: Poverty Reduction and Reform in Developing Countries.

Grindle, Merilee S. "Good Enough Governance: Poverty Reduction and Reform in Developing Countries." World Bank, 2002.

“Política social en América Latina: Qué se debe hacer?

Grindle, Merilee S. “Política social en América Latina: Qué se debe hacer?" Hacia un nuevo estado en América Latina. Ed. Edgardo Buscalia, Merilee S. Grindle, Elaine Kamarck, et al. CIPPEC and Grupo Columbus, 2002, 265-299.

Hacia un nuevo estado en America Latina

Kamarck, Elaine, Merilee S. Grindle, Edgardo Buscalia, et al., eds. Hacia un nuevo estado en America Latina. CIPPEC, 2002.

La Paradoja de la reforma educacional: Pronosticar el fracasco y encontrar el progreso.

Grindle, Merilee S. "La Paradoja de la reforma educacional: Pronosticar el fracasco y encontrar el progreso." Economía política de las reformas educativas en América Latina. Ed. Sergio Martinic and Marcela Pardos. CIDE and PREAL, 2001, 15-52.