This survey collects the insights of experts on local governance in 115 countries, focusing on the oversight capacity of local politicians over their bureaucracy and local bureaucratic autonomy. The motivation for conducting this survey is that nuanced data on the relationship between local bureaucrats and politicians is very difficult to find but is often common knowledge among professionals and academics working with and on local governments. This survey is an attempt to systematize this knowledge and make it accessible. It is available in English, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

If you have been invited to take the survey, please use the link provided in the invitation email. For any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at praffler@gov.harvard.edu.