The Evolving “Importance” of Social and Governance Measures Over Time

Countries either converge or diverge in their social and governance performance. This dynamic directly influences the ability of social and governance indicators to differentiate between countries, with divergence increasing their information content and convergence diminishing it. Tracking the evolution of these indicators' information content over an extended period provides insights into shifts in their relative importance and, most importantly, allows one to uncover the various phases that the global policy landscape undergoes. Using a wide range of indicators across 170 countries, we examine the evolution of information content from 1990 to 2020 of various social and governance constructs. The results reveal a notable shift from social to governance dimensions. Initially, disparities were more pronounced in basic human needs and wellbeing. However, countries have since converged in these areas. In contrast, countries' performance in governance dimensions, such as state capacity and democratic accountability, has seen increased divergence, reflecting widening disparities. These findings highlight that contemporary global policy challenges are increasingly rooted in governance disparities across countries.