The "Institutional Profiles Database" (IPD) provides an original measure of countries' institutional characteristics through composite indicators built from perception data. The database was designed in order to facilitate and stimulate research on the relationship between institutions, long-term economic growth and development.

The 2016 edition of the database follows on from the 2001, 2006, 2009 and 2012 editions. It covers 144 countries and contains 127 indicators, derived from 320 variables describing a broad range of institutional characteristics, structured in nine functions:

• 1) political institutions;
• 2) security, law and order, control of violence;
• 3) functioning of public administrations;
• 4) free operation of markets;
• 5) coordination of stakeholders, strategic vision and innovation;
• 6) security of transactions and contracts;
• 7) market regulation, social dialogue;
• 8) openness;
• 9) social cohesion and social mobility.

This new edition of the IPD is the result of a survey conducted by the Directorate General of the Treasury (DG Trésor). The perception data needed to build the indicators was gathered through a survey completed by country/regional Economic Services (Services Économiques) of the Ministry for the Economy and Finance (MEF). The Centre for Prospective Studies and International Information (CEPII) is our partner in this project.

A document presenting the IPD 2016 (analytical framework, content, methodology) will be available in August 2017. The 2016 edition of the database and earlier versions are available after registration.

Several changes were made in the 2016 edition.

The following questions were added to the questionnaire:

The variable A2032 “Internal conflicts: land-related issues “ was split into two separate variables to capture a more precise information : “Internal conflicts: land-related issues in rural areas” and “Internal conflicts: land-related issues in urban areas”;

A05010, A5011, A5020, A5022, A5030, A5031, A5032 and A5033 relating to “Coordination/collaboration: between ministries [and] within administration”, “Long-term strategic vision”, “Strategic vision: capacity to encourage”, “Strategic vision: human capital”, “Strategic Vision: territorial/urban planning”, “Strategic vision: protection of the environment” and “Strategic vision: international/regional integration”;

The variable D9030 “Role of networks in recruitment and promotion in the administration” was split into two separated variables: “Role of networks in recruitment and promotion of senior officials” and “Role of networks in recruitment and promotion in the administration”.

Some questions were also removed from the questionnaire:

The variables A3060 and A 3061 relating to “Planning/Urban planning in major conglomerations [and] in average sized towns”;

The variables A3100, A3101, A3102, A3103 and A3104 relating to “Operational independence: political parties, large firms, professional organizations, religious organizations, educational, sporting and cultural organizations”;

The variable D1010 related to : “Independence of trade unions”;

The variables D9050, D9051 and D9052 related to “Role of networks: selection of senior politicians”, “Role of networks: selection of senior officials” and “Role of networks: selection of business leaders”.

General characteristics of the various editions of the IPD
	IPD 2001	IPD 2006	IPD 2009	IPD 2012	IPD 2016
Country coverage	51	85	123	143	144
Document of presentation					in production
Amount of variables[a]	238	238	367	330	320
Amount of indicators	96	96	133/93[b]	130	127
Notes : [a] The amount of variables corresponds to the number of questions in the survey. Indicators are computed by aggregating variables. Since the questionnaire has changed with each edition, variables and indicators are not necessarily comparable from one edition to another. [b] The 2009 edition suggests two aggregation schemes to compute indicators.

Notice :
The data provided and any research based on those data shall in no way be deemed to reflect the official positions or incur the responsibility of the AFD, the CEPII or the MEF. Furthermore, these bodies hereby disclaim any or all liability for the consequences of any anomalies or errors remaining in the database.
These indicators are made available for academic research purposes and more specifically to explore the relationship between institutions and development. They are not intended for operational uses (e.g. to allocate resources). The data in the base should be analyzed as a whole in the multidimensional and multi-country approach. Attempts to make use of the indicators individually would be statistically and conceptually problematic.

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