Skip to content
  • Students & Alumni
    • Career Services
    • Alumni Relations
    • Student Support
    • Graduate Resource Library
    • For Employers
  • News
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Luskin Summit
    • Luskin Lecture Series
    • California Policy Briefing
    • Commencement
  • Students & Alumni
    • Career Services
    • Alumni Relations
    • Student Support
    • Graduate Resource Library
    • For Employers
  • News
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Luskin Summit
    • Luskin Lecture Series
    • California Policy Briefing
    • Commencement
Giving
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Logo
  • Academics
    Departments & Programs
    • Global Public Affairs
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • Undergraduate Program
    • Global Public Affairs
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • Undergraduate Program
    Graduate Degrees
    • Master of Global Public Affairs (MGPA)
    • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
    • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
    • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
    • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
    • PhD in Social Welfare
    • PhD in Urban Planning
    • Master of Global Public Affairs (MGPA)
    • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
    • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
    • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
    • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
    • PhD in Social Welfare
    • PhD in Urban Planning
    Undergraduate Degrees
    • BA in Public Affairs
    • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
    • Minor in Gerontology
    • Minor in Public Affairs
    • BA in Public Affairs
    • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
    • Minor in Gerontology
    • Minor in Public Affairs
    Professional Certificates
    • AI in Public Affairs Certificate
    • AI in Public Affairs Certificate
  • Admissions
    Program Specific Admissions
    • Global Public Affairs
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • Undergraduate Program
    • Global Public Affairs
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • Undergraduate Program
  • Faculty
    Our Faculty
    • All Faculty
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • All Faculty
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    Leadership
    • Our Dean
    • Board of Advisors
    • Faculty Executive Committee
    • Our Dean
    • Board of Advisors
    • Faculty Executive Committee
  • Research Centers
    • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL)

      Empowers stakeholders with data to make informed decisions for children, families, and communities.

    • Berggruen Governance Index

      Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

    • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

      Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

    • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

      Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

    • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL)

      Empowers stakeholders with data to make informed decisions for children, families, and communities.

    • Berggruen Governance Index

      Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

    • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

      Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

    • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

      Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

    • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

      Advances research, education, and meaningful civic engagement on transportation issues.

    • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

      Advances scholarship that confronts threats to democracy in America and around the world.

    • Latin American Cities Initiative

      Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

    • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

      Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

    • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

      Advances research, education, and meaningful civic engagement on transportation issues.

    • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

      Advances scholarship that confronts threats to democracy in America and around the world.

    • Latin American Cities Initiative

      Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

    • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

      Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

    • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

      Studying housing affordability and transportation equity in the L.A. region.

    • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

      Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

    • Luskin Center for Innovation

      Informing effective and equitable environmental policy that improves lives.

    • UCLA Voting Rights Project

      The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

    • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

      Studying housing affordability and transportation equity in the L.A. region.

    • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

      Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

    • Luskin Center for Innovation

      Informing effective and equitable environmental policy that improves lives.

    • UCLA Voting Rights Project

      The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

    All Research Centers
  • Outcomes
Home / News / Testing the Effectiveness of Big Government

Testing the Effectiveness of Big Government

illustration of bloated statehouse

Posted in

  • Luskin in the News

Published on

  • October 3, 2024
  • Berggruen Governance Index, governance, real estate, UCLA, UCLA Luskin

Share this Article

An Economist article about “Lumbering Leviathans” — governments around the world that are growing bigger and bigger with little benefit for their people — cited research from the Berggruen Governance Index. While it can be difficult to measure the efficiency of government bureaucracies, the article credits the index with devising a cross-country analysis of state capacity using objective measures, such as tax revenue, and subjective measures, such as perceptions of corruption. The Bergguen Governance Index, directed by UCLA Luskin Adjunct Professor Helmut Anheier, issues reports on its major findings as well as on individual countries. The team recently released “Tunisia’s Autocratic Resurgence” ahead of the country’s Oct. 6 elections. The report examines Tunisia’s democratic rise and possible fall in the 14 years since the “Arab Spring.”

Read the Economist article
Read the BGI report on Tunisia

 
Read the Full Article
Faculty Mentioned in this Article
HelmutKAnheier_Copyright_HertieSchoolofGovernance

Helmut K. Anheier

Adjunct Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy

Helmut K. Anheier is Adjunct Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy, Professor of Sociology at the Hertie School in...

Related Articles

Photo of Hungary.

BGI Report Examines Hungary’s Democratic Future Ahead of Key Election

April 10, 2026
Luskin's Latest Blog
New report assesses Hungary’s democratic decline and election outlook, questioning future of Orbán’s illiberal model....
Read More
Image of Berggruen report cover on Italy

New Berggruen Institute Report Highlights Challenges for Italy Amid Local Elections and Referenda

June 9, 2025
Luskin's Latest Blog
Despite a large economy and reputation for democratic resilience, report looks at country's deeper long-term issues....
Read More
AngMerk1

Anheier on Angela Merkel’s Memoir ‘Freedom’

January 27, 2025
Luskin in the News
In an age of increasingly aggressive, polarizing leaders, the former German chancellor’s understated style may soon...
Read More
BGI Mexico

Balancing Prosperity and Democracy: A Challenge for Mexico

January 23, 2025
Luskin's Latest Blog
New analysis from the Berggruen Governance Index shows a mixed record of rule under the nation's...
Read More
DLchance1

Anheier on Next Steps for Germany’s Next Government

November 21, 2024
Luskin in the News
New German leadership will need bold action to be more effective than the previous administration, the...
Read More
person watching television screen showing presidential candidates

U.S. Governance Challenges Put Election Integrity at Risk, Report Finds

October 22, 2024
Luskin's Latest Blog
“Declining democratic accountability means that the power of the American people’s voice will be diminished," the...
Read More
Learn more about UCLA Luskin

Find contact information and get answers to your questions.

Contact Us

Public Affairs Building
337 Charles E. Young Drive East
Los Angeles, California 90095

Linkedin Youtube Instagram Facebook X-twitter
Campus Resources
  • Map, Directions, Parking
  • Directory
  • Academic Calendar
  • Careers
  • Map, Directions, Parking
  • Directory
  • Academic Calendar
  • Careers
School Resources
  • About
  • Our Dean
  • Administration
  • Board of Advisors
  • Contact Us
  • Visit Us
  • About
  • Our Dean
  • Administration
  • Board of Advisors
  • Contact Us
  • Visit Us
UCLA logo
© 2026 Regents of the University of California
  • Emergency
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & Terms of Use
  • Emergency
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & Terms of Use
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X-twitter Youtube Threads
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Logo
Academics
Departments
  • Global Public Affairs
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Global Public Affairs
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
Graduate Programs
  • Master of Global Public Affairs (MGPA)
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
  • Master of Global Public Affairs (MGPA)
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
Undergraduate Programs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
Professional Certificates
  • AI in Public Affairs Certificate
  • AI in Public Affairs Certificate
Admissions
Program Specific Admissions
  • Global Public Affairs
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Global Public Affairs
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
Faculty
Our Faculty
  • All Faculty
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • All Faculty
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
Leadership
  • Our Dean
  • Board of Advisors
  • Faculty Executive Committee
  • Our Dean
  • Board of Advisors
  • Faculty Executive Committee
Research Centers
  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL)

    Empowers stakeholders with data to make informed decisions for children, families, and communities.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL)

    Empowers stakeholders with data to make informed decisions for children, families, and communities.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    Advances research, education, and meaningful civic engagement on transportation issues.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship that confronts threats to democracy in America and around the world.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    Advances research, education, and meaningful civic engagement on transportation issues.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship that confronts threats to democracy in America and around the world.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Studying housing affordability and transportation equity in the L.A. region.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation

    Informing effective and equitable environmental policy that improves lives.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Studying housing affordability and transportation equity in the L.A. region.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation

    Informing effective and equitable environmental policy that improves lives.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

All Research Centers
Outcomes
Common Search Terms

Results will show as you type.