The Dutch Development Economist

About The Dutch Development Economist

The Dutch Development Economist is an independent newsletter focused on political economy, governance, and development. The articles published on http://keesblokland.substack.com do not start from moral positions, but from systems: institutions, incentives, power structures, and their real-world effects. To help manage expectations, it may be useful to name the analytical perspectives behind the main topics I write about. On Dutch politics, I apply a political anthropology of depoliticisation: analysing how political choice is constrained not only by law, but by norms, moral framing, and informal power.

On European integration, I write from the perspective of institutional political economy of supranational governance: focusing on how competences, budgets, and authority shift through institutional logic rather than explicit democratic choice.

On development cooperation—the topic closest to my heart—I use an agency-centred political economy of development, examining how incentives, responsibility, and ownership shape outcomes far more than intentions do.

Across all three domains, the unifying approach could be described as an institutional critique of moralised governance systems.

This may sound abstract, but it explains why some conclusions feel uneasy or are often labelled ‘alternative’ without being ideological. I take stated objectives—whether in Dutch politics, European integration, or development cooperation—seriously, but not at face value. Moral language is treated as data, not as a conclusion. The central question is always: given these rules, narratives, and incentives, what outcomes should we expect—and do they match what is promised?

This approach can feel uncomfortable. Not because it attacks values, but because it refuses to let values close the debate. Agreement is not required. Disagreement is welcome. What matters is whether arguments survive scrutiny once intentions are separated from results.

Keywords

• Development
• Economics
• European Union
• Investment
• Politics
• Trade

Address

• Headquarters

  ArnhemGelderland, Netherlands

Team by function

Based on 1 public job profiles as of 4 September 2026.

• Creative / Media1