The Kinship in Public Office indicator: Kin connectivity as a proxy for nepotism in the public sector

Abstract

Measuring nepotism in the public sector is challenging because of its elusive nature. This brief reviews methodologies developed to measure the extent of family connections in the public sector and introduces an innovative tool, the Kinship in Public Office indicator, that systematises these approaches. Using kinship connectivity as a proxy for the prevalence of nepotism can help policymakers design and measure the impact of anti-corruption initiatives, beyond more easily quantifiably forms of corruption such as bribery and embezzlement of funds. This publication is part of a series on The Proxy Challenge – towards solving the anti-corruption measurement problem