With the growing role allocated to business in development thinking and practice, especially in relation to the SDGs, the relationship of business with the state is more crucial than ever. Business is not an autonomous or homogeneous development actor, and the contribution of business to development is shaped by its interactions with the state.
The state may engage not only as regulator or coordination partner, but also at times as facilitator, co-conspirator, or adversary. There is much we still need to learn about the structure and process of business and the state interactions with regards to specific and general development issues. This project therefore aims to assess the state of play in research on state-business relations in developing countries, and outline a research agenda which builds on this foundation towards better understanding of the role of state-business relations in shaping development outcomes, including but also beyond economic growth.