BIDPA Ranked Top Think Tank in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis has attained a special milestone as a research Institute, having been ranked the top think tank in Sub-Saharan Africa by the latest Global Think Tank Index. The 2017 TTCSP Global Go To Think Tank Index ranks BIDPA number one among think tanks in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, and 42nd on the list of Top Think Tanks Globally (US institutions excepted). It has been an exciting journey for BIDPA as the Institute has managed to sustain a steady, but upward trajectory in terms of these rankings. BIDPA ranked 29^th in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2011, but the institute moved to the 12^th spot in 2012, 10^th spot in 2013, 5^th spot in 2014, 4^th spot in 2015, 3^rd spot in 2016 and the Institute now occupies the top spot in the latest index.

The TTCSP (Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program) produces the annual Global Go To Think Tank Index that ranks the world’s leading think tanks in a variety of categories. The goal of the program is to increase the profile and performance of think tanks and raise the public awareness of the important role think tanks play in governments and civil societies around the globe.

Technology and the Nature of Active Citizenship: The case of Botswana

The use of technology in citizen participation has grown phenomenally in developed countries, but is emergent in most developing countries. Accessibility and the functionality of information and communication technology such as telephone, cellular phone and internet have profound effect on citizen participation in politics, policy making and implementation. This study applies a case study methodology to understand the relationship between technology and the nature of active citizen participation in developing countries, using Botswana as a case example. The penetration and use of the information and communication technologies in politics and the policy-making process in Botswana remains low. Botswana first laid in place the policy, legal and institutional frameworks to guide its development of ICTs in her governance system. The country has since made significant gains on providing ICT infrastructure countrywide, and reducing the costs associated with accessing these where available. The country has registered improvements on all indicators on Technological readiness further strengthening the country’s path on the adoption ICTs in its governance process.The findings suggest that countries should take the responsibility for, and be committed to, creating a conducive environment for the ICT industry to thrive while not losing focus of the ultimate objective of citizen participation. The paper is accessible here.

Review of Bank Charges in Botswana

This BIDPA  Briefing assesses the cost of banking in Botswana. It presents a range of comparative costs across Botswana's commercial banks in 2014. This exercise involved examining a basic current/cheque account and the charges imposed by the commercial banks. Comparison is also made of selected bank charges on which information was obtainable between banks in Botswana and those in South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius. The Special Briefing can be accesses here.

Enhancing Public Budget Transparency in Botswana: Why and how?

The BIDPA Policy Brief No. 10, authored by Dr Gape Kaboyakgosi - Research Fellow at the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis. This policy brief discusses the need to make Botswana’s budget process more transparent. The objective of the brief is to advocate for the opening up of Botswana’s budgetary process.

Transparent or open budgets both facilitate and support timely, relevant public access to budget information, enhancing citizen participation in the budgetary process. Transparent budgets also strengthen the role and independence of oversight institutions such as Parliament and the Office of the Auditor General - in order to engender budgetary accountability. Click here to read the full report, including recommendations on how the country could improve tranparency on budgetary processes.

Electoral Spending Cycles in Dictatorships

Paper by Joseph Wright, Department of Political Science, The Pennsylvania State University. The paper discusses issues around manipulation of the economy by authoritarian leaders around election time. Evidence from case studies suggests the presence electoral budget cycles in hegemonic dictatorships. However, it is not know if electoral budget cycles exist in other dictatorships. After providing global evidence for an electoral spending cycle, the paper explores one explanation for electoral fiscal manipulation in dictatorships. To deter investment in the opposition, dictators have an incentive toincrease spending in election years. Click here to access the full paper.

 

Global Competitiveness Report 2011 – 2012

The report, is prepared on an annual basis by the World Economic Forum, and includes the Global Competitiveness Index that provides an important basis for comparison of the competitive strengths and weaknesses of more than 140 countries worldwide. In the current edition of the report Botswana falls four places to 80th rank. In the 2008 rankings, Botswana attained a modest improvement of 56 out of 134 countries, but  since then the country has experienced an overall decline in rankings. Click here to access the report. You may also access the Bank of Botswana Governor's speech at the launch of the report by clicking here.

World Investment Report 2011

The report shows that Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows rose moderately to $1.24 trillion in 2010, but were still 15 per cent below their pre-crisis average. This is in contrast to global industrial output and trade, which were back to pre-crisis levels. UNCTAD estimates that global FDI will recover to its pre-crisis level in 2011, increasing to $1.4–1.6 trillion, and approach its 2007 peak in 2013. This positive scenario holds, barring any unexpected global economic shocks that may arise from a number of risk factors still in play. Click here to access the full report.