Indexing watchdog accountability powers a framework for assessing the accountability capacity of independent oversight institutions

Regulation & Governance, vol. 15, pp. 856–876

Abstract

Abstract Independent oversight institutions are critical components of the accountability landscape in modern democracies. This paper presents a framework for assessing the accountability powers of these watchdogs. This watchdog accountability index is an empirical tool to assess the key accountability powers of accountability forums that operate in a democratic constitutional context. The aim is to provide a richer evidence base to assess evolving external accountability arrangements and their effectiveness. Our approach breaks down the concept of watchdog accountability power into three distinct, conceptually coherent dimensions. We apply the accountability index to assess the strength of one of the main watchdog institutions in the EU, the European Court of Auditors in 2017. Data were collected by means of a study of secondary sources and by an expert survey.

Authors 2

1. Mark Bovens corresponding

   Utrecht University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Governance, Faculty Law, Economics Governance, Utrecht University Utrecht the Netherlands

   School of Governance, Faculty Law, Economics, Governance, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

2. Anchrit Wille Aachen Institute of Public Administration Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Public Administration, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands

   Institute of Public Administration, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands