Scholars of social capital are still exploring and debating which type of social capital plays what kind of role in shaping economic development and government performance in different economic and political systems at various levels. To contribute to this important exploration and debate, this...

Few political scientists would deny the centrality of institutions in comparative political studies. Institutions, conceptualized as “the rules of the game in society” (North 1990, 3), impose constraints on people’s behavior and shape their strategies of interaction. These humanly devised...

Using nationwide survey data collected in China in 2005, we reexamine findings reported by Tsai (2007) on governmental informal accountability at the local level. Our analysis indicates informal governmental accountability, as a form of informal institution, serves as an important link between...