Monitoring sustainable development goals and the quest for high‐quality indicators: Learning from a practical evaluation of data on corruption

Giulia Mugellini; Jean‐Patrick Villeneuve; Marlen Heide

doi:10.1002/sd.2223

journal article Open Access Jul 10, 2021

Monitoring sustainable development goals and the quest for high‐quality indicators: Learning from a practical evaluation of data on corruption

Giulia Mugellini

Jean‐Patrick Villeneuve

Marlen Heide

Sustainable Development Vol. 29 No. 6 pp. 1257-1275 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/sd.2223

Abstract

AbstractTracing progress in implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) is at the core of pushing and accounting for change. However, monitoring SDGs is challenged by a lack of purpose‐fit and high‐quality indicators based on data that are collected through a sound methodology, generated regularly, comparable over time, and publicly accessible. Assessing and improving the quality of existing data is essential for helping countries to generate an evidence base for action. General criteria for evaluating data quality are already available at the national and international level but their practical operationalization for the assessment of specific SDGs indicators is still underdeveloped. Taking target 16.5 as a case study, this paper evaluates the quality of existing corruption surveys and their relevance for SDGs. Results show that the main challenges concern data validity (they measure only one aspect of corruption), comparability (they use culturally biased definitions), periodicity (they are not regularly developed), and raw‐data accessibility. This paper develops an original framework for benchmarking the overall methodological quality of existing corruption metrics. This framework can be used beyond the immediate context of corruption measurement and SDGs assessment. The same logic and methodology can, indeed, be employed to evaluate the quality of other metrics and support national governments and practitioners in identifying the informational and methodological gaps to be addressed in order to improve and make the best use of available statistical information.

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Details

Published: Jul 10, 2021
Vol/Issue: 29(6)
Pages: 1257-1275
License: View

Authors

G

Giulia Mugellini

Institute of Communication and Public Policy (ICPP) Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) Lugano Switzerland

J

Jean‐Patrick Villeneuve

Institute of Communication and Public Policy (ICPP) Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) Lugano Switzerland

M

Marlen Heide

Institute of Communication and Public Policy (ICPP) Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) Lugano Switzerland

Cite This Article

Giulia Mugellini, Jean‐Patrick Villeneuve, Marlen Heide (2021). Monitoring sustainable development goals and the quest for high‐quality indicators: Learning from a practical evaluation of data on corruption. Sustainable Development, 29(6), 1257-1275. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2223

Monitoring sustainable development goals and the quest for high‐quality indicators: Learning from a practical evaluation of data on corruption

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