Governance Indicators A Users ’ Guide (2 nd Edition 2006) • Provides guidance on governance indicators; What are they? What are they used for? How to use and not to use indicators • Intended for non-specialist users • Contains 35 sources of inter-country governance indicators
Users Guide: ‘The NormativeAssumption’ • Every indicator will have an underlying normative assumption. • Ex. Number of persons detained without charge – The assumption is that a lower number is better. • Ex. Perceived state of corruption-The assumption is that less corruption is better.
Governance Indicators A Users ’ Guide Golden Rule 1: Use a range of indicators
• The single governance indicator which captures the subtleties and intricacies of national situations, in a manner which enables global, non-value laden comparison does not exist. • Using just one indicator could very easily produce perverse assessments of any country and will rarely reflect the full situation. • …at the other extreme, having too many indicators results in a different range of problems, including a lack of focus and burdensome data collection and analysis. The key is a balanced set with sufficient but not superfluous information.
Golden Rule 1: Use a Range of Indicators Example : Voter turnout used as an indicator of democracy • Voter turnout figure – 85% • Clarify the definition: voter turnout is the number of those casting votes as a proportion of those eligible. Who are eligible? • Who were the 15% • Who is not eligible? • Who did vote? • Was there a choice not to vote? • What are the barriers to eligibility? • Are there any elements of compulsion?
Golden Rule 2: Use an Indicator as a first question -not a last • Often indicators can be developed step by step as more information becomes available. In using an indicator one might go through the following steps. • Yes/No – Asking the basic question, does a problem exist? • Number – After determining that a problem exists, determining the size of the problem. • Percentage – Put the problem into context. • Significance – Use a significance test to examine whether the problem is evenly spread or certain groups face more of a problem.
Golden Rule 3: Understand an Indicator Before You Use it • By using an indicator you can be considered to be implicitly endorsing it, including its methodology and underlying values (normative assumptions) Example: Voter Turnout - how is this defined? • It could either be votes cast as a percentage of voters registered, or votes cast as a percentage of voting age population. Are there any other assessments which are included in the data – for example does the election have to be considered ‘free and fair’ before the data is included in the publication. How, who and where is the data compiled?