Data
Regional Authority
The Regional Authority Index is a measure of the authority of regional governments in 42 democracies or quasi-democracies on an annual basis over the period 1950–2006. The countries included are twenty-nine OECD countries, the 27 countries that are members of the European Union (20 of these are members of the OECD), plus Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Russia, and Serbia and Montenegro. The dataset encompasses subnational government levels with an average population of 150,000 or more. Where appropriate, we code more than one regional tier, and code separately regions with a special autonomous statute or asymmetrical arrangements.
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO RAI USERS
We are currently updating and revising the RAI index for 42 countries up to 2011. We welcome your comments/ feedback/ suggestions for particular countries. Please send an email to Arjan H. Schakel.
We are also extending the RAI index to 27 Latin American countries, five South-East Asian countries, and Israel. Stay tuned.
Regional authority is measured along eight dimensions: institutional depth, policy scope, fiscal autonomy, representation, law making, executive control, fiscal control, constitutional reform. A regional data set contains annual scores for regional governments or tiers in 42 countries for the period 1950-2006. A country data set aggregates these scores to the country level.
We are currently extending the coding scheme to all Latin American countries, Israel, South Korea, and four South-East Asian countries; adding a ninth dimension estimating borrowing autonomy; and updating the 42 OECD+ to 2010. Please click here to learn about our progress.
Regional data
- Regional scores (MS Excel)
- Codebook (PDF)
Country data
(Regional scores aggregated to the country)
- Country scores (MS Excel)
- Codebook (PDF)
Additional Documentation
- Coding scheme on how the eight dimensions were operationalized
- Instructions on how to calculate country scores from regional scores
- List of legislative documents
How to cite?
Liesbet Hooghe, Gary Marks, Arjan H. Schakel. 2010. The Rise of Regional Authority: a comparative study of 42 democracies (1950-2006).(London: Routledge).
For a discussion of the reliability of the data and a preliminary analysis please consult:
Special issue on "Measuring Regional Authority",
Regional and Federal Studies (2008), 18, 2-3: 111-302.
Authors: Liesbet Hooghe; Gary Marks; Arjan H. Schakel
Measuring Regional Authority
Authors: Gary Marks; Liesbet Hooghe; Arjan H. Schakel
Operationalizing Regional Authority: A Coding Scheme for 42 Countries, 1950-2006
Authors: Liesbet Hooghe; Gary Marks; Arjan H. Schakel
Validation of the Regional Authority Index
Author: Arjan H. Schakel
Patterns of Regional Authority
Authors: Gary Marks; Liesbet Hooghe; Arjan H. Schakel
Appendix A: Profiles of Regional Reform in 42 Countries (1950-2006)
Authors: Liesbet Hooghe; Arjan H. Schakel; Gary Marks
Appendix B: Country and Regional Scores
Authors: Liesbet Hooghe; Arjan H. Schakel; Gary Marks
Appendix C: A Library on Regional Authority
Author: Arjan H. Schakel
The published version is downloadable from the Regional and Federal Studies website through your institute/university or directly from the Taylor & Francis website.