Associated with the growing
demand for quantifying the governance performance of countries, localities, and
institutions, there has been a virtual explosion of datasets measuring quality
of institutions, governance and corruption. This is illustrated by the worldwide
aggregate Governance Indicators
Dataset, generated by researchers at the World Bank, comprising six
different governance components for about 200 countries, or by the Corruption
Perception Index of Transparency International, or by the measures generated from
enterprise surveys carried out by the World Bank or by the Global
Competitiveness program of the World Economic Forum.
While these indicators and
surveys are relatively well known, they are not the only datasets available; far
from it. The question of €œwhat other works are available?€ is frequently asked
by academics, policy makers, civil society and journalists. Depending on the
desired goal of the user, a particular dataset and related tool is likely to
serve as a match than others. Thus, it is useful to provide an inventory of the
available datasets on governance, in order to facilitate the user's access to a
broad spectrum of such data, and to let the user decide which one is most
relevant. For each dataset, we provide some basic information and
characteristics, including its web link. Where we have found no web links, we
have provided email addresses of the developers for contact by individuals for
access to data. The total number of datasets in this inventory exceeds 140. And
this only includes datasets and associated empirical tools where actual data
exists and is made accessible to the user. Such proliferation argues for
providing an interactive and web-friendly compilation of the list of
datasets.
Since this is a new
initiative, we are likely to be missing some datasets. We therefore encourage
users and experts to let us know about them so that we can add them to this
inventory. Furthermore, if some of the information we provide in characterizing
the listed datasets is incorrect, incomplete, or out-of-date, do let us
know.Your input and feedback is
crucial for maintaining a valuable inventory of governance databases. We will be
regularly updating this inventory of governance databases.
Our compilation would not
have been possible, if it were not for the work already carried out by
others. Outside of the World Bank we want to acknowledge in particular the
compendium by M. Besançon (2003), and within the Bank we are grateful by the
collaboration and inputs of many colleagues. Some key references are listed at
the end of this note.
This inventory of governance
data sets are organized into three different matrices, which the user can
quickly review or scroll:
-
External governance
datasets and instruments (from outside of the World Bank, and/or indicators by
Bank researchers based on outside data)
-
Internal World Bank
governance datasets and empirical tools (the latter restricted to those that
contain accessible data).
-
Consolidated matrix of
both external and internal governance datasets and instruments. The data sets
have been arranged in descending order according to the extent (number) of
country coverage.
User feedback, corrections,
additions, and further suggestions on how to improve this web-based governance
database inventory are very welcomed. This compilation has been carried out by
Juliet Pumpuni, with the collaboration of Massimo Mastruzzi and Erin Hoffman,
under the general direction of Daniel Kaufmann. For submission of additional
data sets, corrections or feedback, please write us
at governancewbi@worldbank.org.
