Rethinking Governance: Empirical Lessons Challenge Orthodoxy

47 Pages Posted: 2 Jun 2003

See all articles by Daniel Kaufmann

Daniel Kaufmann

Results for Development; The University of the Philippines Diliman; The Brookings Institution

Date Written: March 11, 2003

Abstract

We review key issues in worldwide governance and present the latest findings related to empirical measurement in this field. We focus on key governance components, such as rule of law, voice and accountability, corruption control, and state capture by region and for selected countries. The recent evidence suggests a rather sobering picture: Scant progress in improving rule of law and governance, controlling corruption, and improving institutional quality worldwide is apparent, with clear variance across countries. Further, the empirical analysis points to the private sector as influencing public governance, thereby challenging traditional notions of the functioning of politicians, public policy and the public sector, and the key determinants of the investment climate. These argue for revisiting conventional approaches to promote institutional reform. In particular, we challenge the effectiveness of passing laws by fiat, creating new public institutions and anti-corruption 'campaigns', as well as traditional approaches to public sector management and legal/judiciary reform (often 'Western' transplants) in many emerging markets. We argue instead for greater external accountability, with a larger role for i) transparency mechanisms; ii) empirically-based monitoring tools; and, iii) 'voice' and incentive-driven approaches to provide checks and balances on traditional public institutions, empower non-traditional stakeholders, ameliorate state capture, and level the unequal 'influence' playing field. This calls for deeper examination of the private-public governance nexus and we make specific recommendations regarding governance strategies for the next phase.

Keywords: governance, empirical analysis, corruption, rule of law, accountability, state capture, public policy, public sector management, transparency, indicators

JEL Classification: E0,H0,H4,K0,K2,K4,L1,L2,L5,M2,O1,P0,P5

Suggested Citation

Kaufmann, Daniel, Rethinking Governance: Empirical Lessons Challenge Orthodoxy (March 11, 2003). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=386904 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.386904

Daniel Kaufmann (Contact Author)

Results for Development ( email )

1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1210
Washington, DC 20009
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://r4d.org/about/our-team/daniel-kaufmann/

The University of the Philippines Diliman ( email )

Manila
Philippines

The Brookings Institution ( email )

1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.brookings.edu/experts/kaufmannd

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