Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Asylbek kyzy, Gulzhan
Author-workplace-name: RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, Mt Economic Research Inst on Innov/Techn
Author-Name: Milante, Gary
Author-Name: Nimeh, Zina
Author-workplace-name: Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, RS: GSBE MGSoG, RS: UNU-MERIT Theme 6
Author-Name: Thomsson, Kaj
Author-workplace-name: RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, Macro, International & Labour Economics
Title: Why do we still measure state fragility?
Abstract: Measuring and monitoring countries that are fragile is a rapidly growing but complicated task. Quantifying state fragility or any concept that is highly complex is loaded with theoretical assumptions, principles and definitions that may differ substantially across indices. This paper explains why the fragility community remains invested in expanding the concept of fragility, presents an updated stocktaking of the existing fragility indices and evaluates them using the framework approach. Reviewing the selected indices reveals that they can be indeed a source of useful signal. However, there can also be worthless noise associated with these indices because of the identified cross-reference issue between the indices, problems of double-counting or time lag in data. The paper argues that it would rather complicate than aid to believe that there is a particular index that is better than another. Instead, it encourages a more nuanced understanding of different fragility indices and concludes with offering insights into how to make sense of them.
Classification-JEL: d74,o43,o19
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 20231121
Number: 2023-041
File-URL: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/files/173187865/wp2023-041.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 1110684
Handle: Repec:unm:unumer:2023041
DOI: