Governance & Corruption

The IPD Governance and Development team uses statistical tools and GIS mapping software to study governments' capacity, autonomy, delivery of services, and probity in carrying out these functions. Our goal is to promote transparent and accessible budget data, increase government accountability, curtail corruption, and facilitate political participation throughout the world. One of our research projects examines intergovernmental fiscal transfers (from central government to local government) and their ability to explain potential clientelist and other development-related patterns in Honduras. The team recently completed an extensive literature review, wrote a major research proposal, and conducted 35 interviews in various municipalities in Honduras. Research affiliates on the team gained valuable skills in geocoding, data cleaning and management using Excel, data visualization using GIS mapping software, and geospatial and statistical analysis. This past year, the team published one blog post, completed a Governance and Development annotated bibliography, and led workshops on: geocoding, data cleaning, GIS mapping software, and Excel. 

Helen Clark in Mali Photo Credit: UN Development Programme on Flickr Creative Commons License