The Centre for Aid and Public Expenditure (CAPE) Conference 2007 explored the interface between the technical dimensions of public finance reform and the wider research and policy agenda on governance and the political economy of reform.

The conference examined comparative experiences of PFM reforms, looking at reforms in countries where some of the standard dimensions of 'good governance' are weak or missing. It considered what factors motivate and sustain PFM reform progress, the links with institutions and political processes and asked why some reforms are able to succeed in difficult environments.

The aim of the conference was to draw out relevant lessons for policymakers in national governments and the international donor community on supporting effective reform processes, together with broader reflections on the link between PFM progress and the 'good governance' agenda. The conference aimed to shape current thinking about the interplay between public financial management reform and governance and define an agenda for future applied research in this area.