The elusive proposition of developing an index for quality of governance in Latin America: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

This chapter discusses the difficulties of defining governance and establishing methods for measuring it. Our governance analysis focuses on government capabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). However, as discussed in the sections ahead, we recognize that there are other views of governance and how to measure it. We begin with the assumption that there are characteristics (“good practices”) that make public administrations more effective, responsive, efficient, and accountable. In particular, the literature shows that recruitment practices such as merit testing and job stability help to reduce corruption (Oliveros & Schuster, 2018) and improve policy quality (Rothstein, 2011; Dahlström & Lapuente, 2018). At the same time, the literature also suggests that these practices cannot be imposed coercively and without considering the political and social realities of the countries concerned. In this context, the chapter examines the conceptualization and measurement of governance and, although not exhaustive, also reviews some of the most influential indexes.