DIAGNOSTICS OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE QUALITY IN RUSSIA

Abstract

Insufficient quality of governance is traditionally considered a factor hindering social and economic development in Russia. However, the notion of governance quality and approaches to its measurement are subject to active debate. The article implements an original approach to defining and evaluating governance quality based on three key parameters: justified state interference, effectiveness, and efficiency. The diagnostics are based on evaluations made by international organizations, available statistical and sociological data, and the results of an expert survey conducted in March 2021. The diagnostic results suggest that there is significant room for improving the quality of public governance in Russia. Nevertheless, international and national evaluations of governance quality differ. While international organizations point to the deficiencies in ensuring justified state interference, Russian experts suggest that most problems with governance quality are efficiency-related. The paper suggests that there is a need for a comprehensive approach to improving public governance based on the balance of measures aimed at ensuring justified state interference as well as enhancing governance effectiveness and efficiency. In many cases such measures would not call for introducing new instruments and mechanisms; they should aim at implementing actual rather than formal application of the measures and practices already envisaged by legislation. The success of the efforts to improve public governance in Russia would depend on integrating these instruments and mechanisms into the management cycle and on increasing the responsibility for actual rather than formal use thereof. In this case one can also expect a positive impact of governance quality on achieving economic growth, quality of life, and other national developmental objectives.