The State Capture Collaborative

It has been 25 years since Aart Kraay and Dani Kaufmann’s seminal paper on state capture. Over the years, significant work by colleagues around the world has deepened our understanding of the nature and dangers of capture, while national debates—such as those in South Africa—have demonstrated how people can drive reform agendas to prevent or limit state capture.

In coordination with several partners, we are planting the seeds for the State Capture Collaborative—an initiative aimed at connecting evidence, using both quantitative and qualitative analysis, to develop strategies for addressing state capture. This includes engaging citizens through targeted information and storytelling.

We will begin by establishing a community of practice composed of diverse actors working in this space. Through a series of activities, we will connect them with members of the Governance Explorers’ Network who are interested in or have experience with state capture, facilitating discussions on practical ways to create spaces for addressing capture in their respective countries or fields.

The State Capture Index

At the center of the State Capture Collaborative is the State Capture Index, conceptualized and developed by Results for Development Senior Fellow Daniel Kaufmann. The State Capture Index tracks the evolution of state capture across 172 countries over nearly three decades.

The findings highlight key differences between traditional measures of corruption and those of state capture across many countries. Notably, they reveal a relatively higher prevalence of state capture compared to traditional corruption measures in advanced economies. 

Explore the State Capture Index Data.