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Evaluating Governance Indexes: Critical and Less Critical Questions

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  • Rachel M. Gisselquist

Abstract

Recent years have seen a proliferation of 'composite indicators' or 'indexes' of governance. Such measures can be useful tools for analysing governance, making public policy, building scientific knowledge, and even influencing ruling elites, but some are better tools than others and some are better suited to certain purposes than others. This paper provides a framework of ten questions to help users and producers of governance indexes to evaluate them and consider key components of index design.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel M. Gisselquist, 2013. "Evaluating Governance Indexes: Critical and Less Critical Questions," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-068, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2013-068
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/WP2013-068.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Michener, Gregory, 2015. "Policy Evaluation via Composite Indexes: Qualitative Lessons from International Transparency Policy Indexes," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 184-196.
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    3. Helmut K. Anheier & Regina A. List & Edward L. Knudsen, 2023. "Advancing governance indicator systems: Lessons learned from the 2022 symposium," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(S4), pages 136-146, October.

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