Quality of Government

Corruption, Social Trust, and Inequality in International Perspective

Rothstein Bo

The relationship between government, virtue, and wealth has held a special fascination since Aristotle, and the importance of each frames policy debates today in both developed and developing countries. While it's clear that low-quality government institutions have tremendous negative effects on the health and wealth of societies, the criteria for good governance remain far from clear.

In this pathbreaking book, leading political scientist Bo Rothstein provides a theoretical foundation for empirical analysis on the connection between the quality of government and important economic, political, and social outcomes. Focusing on the effects of government policies, he argues that unpredictable actions constitute a severe impediment to economic growth and development – and that a basic characteristic of quality government is impartiality in the exercise of power. This is borne out by cross-sectional analyses, experimental studies, and in-depth historical investigations. Timely and topical, "The Quality of Government" tackles such issues as political legitimacy, social capital, and corruption.

Reviews

"Rothstein makes a convincing case that government corruption reduces social trust, which in turn leads to less productive social-political economies and more inequality. Recognizing the full causal chain is essential to achieving success in efforts to improve the welfare of the poor living in corrupt countries. Rothstein's book should be read by all concerned with development inequities" – Elinor Ostrom, Indiana University, winner of the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

"Bo Rothstein asks what high-quality government can and should be, and gives us multiple reasons to care about the answers he proposes. 'The Quality of Government' is a theoretically sophisticated and imaginative discussion of issues that have needed a fresh look for some time" – Michael Johnston, Colgate University

"This is social science at its best. Ranging widely over the literatures in political science, sociology, economics, and many other fields, Bo Rothstein sheds light on why some governments work better and instill more trust than others – and provides much practical policy advice on the side" – Dani Rodrik, Harvard University

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