In the current issue of Governance, Johan Christensen of the European University Institute asks why New Zealand adopted "one of the most neoliberal tax systems in the world," while Ireland avoided similar policies.  The answer, says Christensen, lies in differences between national bureaucracies.  "Distinct administrative institutions," says Christensen, "gave rise to profound differences in the identities, expertise, economic ideas, and policymaking role of tax policy bureaucrats, leading policy change in different directions."  Read the article.

Sweden routinely receives top marks in international assessments about control of corruption.  But Swedes are still skeptical about the impartiality of their public officials.  In the current issue of Governance, Jonas Linde of the University of Bergen and Gissur Erlingsson of Link�ping University find "a widespread feeling among Swedish citizens that many public officials disrespect the principle of impartiality," and that the treatment they get depends on personal contacts.  Perceptions of unfair treatment are higher than in any other Nordic country, Linde and Erlingsson say, and undermine public support for the political system. Read the article.

On the Crooked Timber blog, Niamh Hardiman discusses Kim Lane Scheppele's commentary in the current issue of Governance, The Rule of Law and The Frankenstate  (Free access).  "There are a number of implications for the role of the EU in supporting the stability and durability of democracy in Europe," says Hardiman.  "One is that piecemeal constitutional change can corrode democratic freedoms, and that dangers of a pull toward the far right should be more clearly recognized."

The Galamus website has also translated Scheppele's commentary into Hungarian.  Meanwhile the Slovak news portal Parameter carries a response to Scheppele's commentary (also in Hungarian) by columnist J�nos Sz�ky.

Governance invites nominations for the 2014 Levine Book Prize.  The prize is named in honor of Charles H. Levine, an accomplished scholar who served on the editorial board of Governance.  The 2014 committee is chaired by Agnes Batory of Central European University and also includes Julia Fleischer of the University of Amsterdam and Luc Juillet of the University of Ottawa.  Get more details about the Prize, previous winners, and members of the 2014 Prize Committee.

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