Bartlett, W., Čučković, N. and Jurlin, K. (2017), A Comparative Perspective on Institutional Quality in Countries at Different Stages of European Integration. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 108 (1): 92–108. (Special issue: Economic Perspectives on European Neighbourhood Policy, FP7 project SEARCH), doi:10.1111/tesg.12196
The paper investigates changes in institutional quality in countries at different stages of European integration over the seven-year period from 2004-11. It analyses two countries of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) region, two from the Western Balkans and two EU Member States from South East Europe. The analysis reveals differences between the country groups in the extent of institutional convergence, in perceptions of corruption and in the pace of democratic consolidation. Analysis of changes in a newly constructed index of institutional quality in the public sector reveals a further falling behind the EU in some key dimensions. The convergence targets have not yet been achieved and the outcome is far from certain.
Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tesg.2017.108.issue-1/issuetoc