Seminar

Building Courts and Access to Justice: Evidence from a Judicial Reform in Kenya

Matthieu Chemin (McGill University)

March 31, 2023, 12:45–13:45

Toulouse

Room Auditorium 4 (First floor - TSE Building)

Abstract

The legal system enforces contracts and secures property rights, thereby fostering investment and economic development. Yet, there is no legal system if there are no physical buildings to operate courts. In this paper, we study a $120 Million World Bank reform building courts in Kenya. We use plausibly exogenous delays in building some courts (namely adverse weather conditions, unsuitable ground conditions, slow release of funds by the treasury, and building contractors delays) as a source of variation to identify the causal impact of building courts. After courts are built, we find an increased usage of courts, especially for civil, commercial, and succession land cases. Satisfaction with, and trust in courts increases.

Reference

Matthieu Chemin (McGill University), Building Courts and Access to Justice: Evidence from a Judicial Reform in Kenya, IAST Lunch Seminar, Toulouse: IAST, March 31, 2023, 12:45–13:45, room Auditorium 4 (First floor - TSE Building).