"The fundamental question of political theory, one which precedes all other questions about the nature of political life, is why there is a state at all. Is human cooperation feasible without a political authority enforcing it? Or do we need a state to live together? This question also reveals...

How well any government functions simply hinges on how good citizens are at making their politicians accountable for their actions. The political control of public officials depends on two factors. First, free and regular elections allow citizens to discipline politicians - the credible threat...

This paper explores, both formally and empirically, the political accountability mechanisms that lie behind the varying levels of public corruption and of effective governance taking place across nations. The first section develops a principal-agent model in which good governance is a function...