Partner Publication

R 2018:03

Building tax systems in fragile states. Challenges, achievements and policy recommendations

This publication is also available in French

Building tax systems in fragile states. Challenges, achievements and policy recommendations

The purpose of this study is to systematise and analyse existing knowledge on taxation in fragile states. Efforts to support domestic revenue mobilisation in conflict situations require a different approach and other means than in the more stable developing countries. On that basis, the study discusses possible entry points for Norwegian support to domestic revenue mobilisation in ways that may contribute to strengthen state-building and improve government legitimacy.

Complexity, limited experience and security concerns suggest that one should be cautious to adopt bilateral technical assistance programmes of the kind implemented in other developing countries. Instead, the study argues in favour of engagement via multilateral institutions, including multi-donor trust funds and other forms of pooled resources.

Publication Details

Date

Publisher

Research theme

Share

More resources

Authors

Related Publications

Book

Elgar Encyclopedia of African Politics Chapter 82: Taxation and state-building

March 2026
Vanessa van den Boogaard, Tanya Bandula-Irwin

Policy Brief

The Tax Era of Development: Taxing Smarter for Equity, Growth, and Resilience

June 2025
Max Gallien, Martin Hearson, Giulia Mascagni, Giovanni Occhiali, Daisy Ogembo, Vanessa van den Boogaard

Research in Brief

Beyond Greed: Why Armed Groups Tax

August 2023
Tanya Bandula-Irwin, Max Gallien, Ashley Jackson, Vanessa van den Boogaard, Florian Weigand

Research in Brief

Unpacking ‘Tax Morale’: Distinguishing Between Conditional and Unconditional Views of Tax Compliance

August 2023
Wilson Prichard