Explaining the institutional evolution of BECC and NADbank
Author(s): Linda J Allen
Abstract: The Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and North American Development Bank (NADBank) were established 30 years ago to address the lack of environmental infrastructure in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Their institutional design incorporated innovative structures intended to increase their effectiveness and address shortcomings that had historically plagued similar multilateral development institutions, such as the World Bank. Over the years, however, their institutional structure evolved considerably. Using a historical institutionalism framework, this article traces the evolution of BECC and NADBank from innovative institutions to more traditional institutions. The study demonstrates that although the innovative design of BECC and NADBank was attractive in principle, it was problematic in practice because of a mismatch between the design and border context. The study highlights that institutional innovations can have unintended consequences that should be considered in the future design or reform of other multilateral development institutions.
Linda J Allen. Explaining the institutional evolution of BECC and NADbank. Int J Political Sci Governance 2024;6(2):385-395. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2024.v6.i2e.479
