35
Collaboration Between Think Tanks and Government in the Development of Public Policy
Figure 1: Think Tanks in the World and Latin America,
2007-2010
Source: McGann, James G., Ph.D.,
The Global “Go-To Think Tanks” 2008, 2009 & 2010
(Philadelphia,
PA: University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2011), Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program. <
-
thinktank.com/global-%E2%80%9Cgo-to-tanks-leading-public-policy-research-organizations-world/>.
correlation, we used the governance index developed by the World
Bank and the Brookings Institute. The index defines governance as
“The traditions and institutions through which authority is exerted.”
Conceptually this definition is based on three areas: the process through
which governments are chosen, replaced and monitored; the capacity
of a government to formulate and implement effective public policies;
and the respect of citizens and the state for institutions that rule the
economic and social interactions between them. Although think tanks
can be involved in all of these areas, their main role and focus is within
the formulation and implementation of sound public policies. The
index provides information that measures
government effectiveness
and
regulatory quality
. Government effectiveness is understood as the
perception there is regarding the quality of public services, civil services,
and the degree to which the government is capable of formulating and
implementing public services independently from political pressures.
Likewise, it considers the credibility of a government regarding the
commitment to such policies. Regulatory quality is understood as the
capacity of a government to formulate and implement robust policies
World
Latin America
2007
2008
2009
2010
7000
408
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
5080
5465
6305
6480
538
645
690