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| India-Pakistan |
| Institutional quality & regression |
| 2016-01-02 |
| [DAWN] THE State Bank of Pakistain underwent major changes in the early 2000s. It became independent, went through a major reformation, gained in stature and prestige, managed to get some really good researchers and bankers on its payroll and started performing its functions well. But over time, the bank has gone back, almost, to the kind of institution it was previously. Most good people have left, institutional independence, and with it integrity has been surrendered, Governors have been forced to resign, and new governors have been appointed on the basis of loyalty it seems, instead of competence. The tale of regression to the mean, where in Pakistain, for most institutions, the mean, or the average, represents a fairly incompetent, corrupt and nepotism-ridden structure with plenty of built-in slack, seems to be an almost inevitable outcome. Sometimes institutions are reformed, and initially they perform well. But then, over time, they regress to this mean. At other times, new institutions are built and whatever their initial trajectory, over time they too regress. There are plenty of institutions and organizations that tell this sad tale. There are few, if any, that defy it and prove to be the exception. A new university gets created around a small core of very competent, highly motivated and committed faculty and administrative staff. Over the next few years, it sets a high standard in its field. This results in various kinds of pressures on the institution. The pressure to expand comes from parents who want quality education for their children, from trustees and board members who want the university to play a larger role in national life, and from prospective faculty and staff who want to join a good institution. As the pressure mounts, the university responds by expanding. |
| Posted by:Fred |