IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/istatr/v75y2007i1p70-95.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Governance, Democracy and Poverty Reduction: Lessons Drawn from Household Surveys in Sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America

Author

Listed:
  • Javier Herrera
  • Mireille Razafindrakoto
  • François Roubaud

Abstract

Public statistics face quite a challenge when it comes to measuring new dimensions of development (institutions, governance, and social and political participation). To take up this challenge, modules on Governance, Democracy and Multiple Dimensions of Poverty have been appended to household surveys by National Statistics Institutes in twelve African and Latin American developing countries. This paper presents the issues addressed and the methodological lessons learnt along with a selection of findings to illustrate this innovative approach and demonstrate its analytic potential. We investigate, for instance, the population's support for democratic principles, the respect for civil and political rights and the trust in the political class; the ‘need for the State’, particularly of the poorest; the extent of petty corruption; the reliability of expert surveys on governance; the perception of decentralization policies at local level; the level and vitality of social and political participation, etc. The conclusive appraisal made opens up prospects for the national statistical information systems in the developing countries. The measurement and tracking of this new set of objective and subjective public policy monitoring indicators would benefit from being made systematic. La mesure des nouvelles dimensions du développement (institutions, gouvernance, participation, sociale et politique) pose un redoutable défi à la statistique publique. Pour y répondre, des modules thématiques sur la Gouvernance, la Démocratie et les Multiples Dimensions de la Pauvreté ont été greffés sur des enquêtes auprès des ménages réalisées par les Instituts Nationaux de la Statistique de douze pays en développement, africains et latino américains. On présente ici les enjeux et les enseignements méthodologiques de cette expérience, ainsi qu'une sélection de résultats illustratifs de cette approche novatrice. On s'interroge sur l'adhésion des citoyens aux principes démocratiques; le respect des droits civils et politiques; la confiance envers les institutions et la classe politique; le ‘besoin d'Etat’, notamment des pauvres; l'ampleur de la petite corruption; l'efficience des institutions; la fiabilité des enquêtes‐experts sur la gouvernance; l'appréciation des politiques de décentralisation au niveau local; le niveau et la dynamique de la participation sociale et politique, etc. Le bilan concluant qui en est tiré ouvre des perspectives pour les systèmes nationaux d'informations statistiques dans les PED. La mesure et le suivi de cette nouvelle batterie d'indicateurs objectifs et subjectifs au service de la conduite des politiques publiques mériteraient d'être systématisés.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Herrera & Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2007. "Governance, Democracy and Poverty Reduction: Lessons Drawn from Household Surveys in Sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America," International Statistical Review, International Statistical Institute, vol. 75(1), pages 70-95, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:istatr:v:75:y:2007:i:1:p:70-95
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-5823.2006.00005.x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-5823.2006.00005.x
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/j.1751-5823.2006.00005.x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Lokshin & Nithin Umapathi & Stefano Paternostro, 2006. "Robustness of subjective welfare analysis in a poor developing country: Madagascar 2001," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(4), pages 559-591.
    2. Javier Herrera & Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2007. "Governance, Democracy and Poverty Reduction: Lessons Drawn from Household Surveys in Sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America," International Statistical Review, International Statistical Institute, vol. 75(1), pages 70-95, April.
    3. Kaufmann, Daniel & Kraay, Aart & Mastruzzi, Massimo, 2005. "Governance matters IV : governance indicators for 1996-2004," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3630, The World Bank.
    4. John Mcmillan & Pablo Zoido, 2004. "How to Subvert Democracy: Montesinos in Peru," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 18(4), pages 69-92, Fall.
    5. Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2005. "Les multiples facettes de la pauvreté dans un pays en développement. Le cas de la capitale malgache," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 383(1), pages 131-155.
    6. Undp, 2002. "HDR 2002 - Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented World," Human Development Report (1990 to present), Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), number hdr2002, September.
    7. Deepa Narayan & Robert Chambers & Meera K. Shah & Patti Petesch, 2000. "Voices of the Poor : Crying Out for Change," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13848.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4390 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. James Copestake, 2008. "Wellbeing in international development: what's new?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(5), pages 577-597.
    3. Marie Laberge & Yeo Dossina & François Roubaud, 2017. "Counting What Counts: Africa’s Seminal Effort to Produce Harmonized Official Statistics on Governance, Peace and Security," Working Papers DT/2017/20, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    4. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10627 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Giulia Mugellini & Jean‐Patrick Villeneuve & Marlen Heide, 2021. "Monitoring sustainable development goals and the quest for high‐quality indicators: Learning from a practical evaluation of data on corruption," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(6), pages 1257-1275, November.
    6. Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2018. "Responding to the SDG16 Measurement Challenge: The Governance, Peace and Security Survey Modules in Africa," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 9(3), pages 336-351, September.
    7. Razafindrakoto, Mireille & Roubaud, François, 2010. "Are International Databases on Corruption Reliable? A Comparison of Expert Opinion Surveys and Household Surveys in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 1057-1069, August.
    8. Calvo, Thomas & Razafindrakoto, Mireille & Roubaud, François, 2019. "Fear of the state in governance surveys? Empirical evidence from African countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Javier Herrera & Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2007. "Governance, Democracy and Poverty Reduction: Lessons Drawn from Household Surveys in Sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America," International Statistical Review, International Statistical Institute, vol. 75(1), pages 70-95, April.
    10. Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2015. "The Governance, Peace and Security modules of the Strategy for the Harmonisation of Statistics in Africa (GPS-SHaSA): development of an innovative statistical survey methodology," Working Papers DT/2015/20, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    11. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10910 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Jean-Pierre Cling & Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2018. "SDG 16 on Governance and its measurement: Africa in the Lead," Working Papers DT/2018/02, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    13. Asif Reza Anik & Siegfried Bauer, 2014. "Household Income and Relationships with Different Power Entities as Determinants of Corruption," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 8(3), September.
    14. Aloui, Zouhaier, 2019. "Have economic growth and the quality of governance contributed to poverty reduction and improved well-being in African countries?," MPRA Paper 95139, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4394 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Toke S. Aidt, 2009. "Corruption, institutions, and economic development," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 25(2), pages 271-291, Summer.
    3. Margaret Grosh & Carlo del Ninno & Emil Tesliuc & Azedine Ouerghi, 2008. "For Protection and Promotion : The Design and Implementation of Effective Safety Nets," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6582.
    4. Hunt, Jennifer & Laszlo, Sonia, 2005. "Bribery: Who Pays, Who Refuses, What are the Payoffs?," CEPR Discussion Papers 5251, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Knack, Steve & Xu, Lixin Colin, 2017. "Unbundling institutions for external finance: Worldwide firm-level evidence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 215-232.
    6. Risfandy, Tastaftiyan & Tarazi, Amine & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2022. "Competition in dual markets: Implications for banking system stability," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    7. Gugler, Klaus & Peev, Evgeni & Segalla, Esther, 2013. "The internal workings of internal capital markets: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 59-73.
    8. Maria Kravtsova & Aleksey Oshchepkov, 2019. "Market And Network Corruption," HSE Working papers WP BRP 209/EC/2019, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    9. Javorcik, Beata S. & Özden, Çaglar & Spatareanu, Mariana & Neagu, Cristina, 2011. "Migrant networks and foreign direct investment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 231-241, March.
    10. Carmen Pagés-Serra & Reyes Aterido & Mary Hallward-Driemeier, 2007. "Clima de negocios y creación de empleo: El efecto del acceso al crédito, la corrupción y el marco regulatorio en el crecimiento de las empresas," Research Department Publications 4560, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    11. Jeffrey B. Nugent & Grigor. Sukiassyan, 2009. "Alternative Strategies For Firms In Oppressive And Corrupt States: Informality Or Formality Via Business Associations?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 27(4), pages 423-439, October.
    12. Mathias KUEPIE & Eric Patrick FEUBI PAMEN, 2017. "An Application of the Alkire-Foster’s Multidimensional Poverty Index to Data from Madagascar: Taking Into Account the Dimensions of Employment and Gender Inequality," Working Paper 6ca04615-044d-41a0-8737-9, Agence française de développement.
    13. TUZOLELE, Adam S., 2024. "La Classe Inutile en République Démocratique du Congo [The Useless Class in the Democratic Republic of Congo]," MPRA Paper 121257, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 20 Jun 2024.
    14. Andrei A. Levchenko, 2013. "International Trade and Institutional Change," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 29(5), pages 1145-1181, October.
    15. Hanming Fang, 2024. "Measurements, determinants, causes, and consequences of corruption: lessons from China’s anti-corruption campaign," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 31(1), pages 3-25, February.
    16. Novy, Andreas & Leubolt, Bernhard, 2004. "Das Partizipative Budget in Porto Alegre. Die Dialektik von staatlichen und nicht-staatlichen Formen sozialer Innovation," SRE-Discussion Papers 2004/03, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    17. Laura Camfield & Andrew Crabtree & Keetie Roelen, 2013. "Editorial: Poverty, Vulnerability and Resilience in a Post-2015 World," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 113(2), pages 599-608, September.
    18. Edward L. Glaeser & Raven Saks, 2004. "Corruption in America," NBER Working Papers 10821, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    19. Vincent Bignon & Marc Flandreau, 2012. "The Price of Media Capture and the Looting of Newspapers in Interwar France," IHEID Working Papers 09-2012, Economics Section, The Graduate Institute of International Studies.
    20. Djeneba Doumbia, 2019. "The quest for pro-poor and inclusive growth: the role of governance," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(16), pages 1762-1783, April.
    21. Yan Leung Cheung & P. Raghavendra Rau & Aris Stouraitis, 2012. "How much do firms pay as bribes and what benefits do they get? Evidence from corruption cases worldwide," NBER Working Papers 17981, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:istatr:v:75:y:2007:i:1:p:70-95. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/isiiinl.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.