Good Governance

Good governance addresses how governments manage societies. It plays a special role in the efficiency of governments. The present research, utilizing a descriptive-analytical method, library studies, and survey investigations, aims to analyze the efficiency of post-Islamic Revo-lution governments from the viewpoints of transparency and corruption control, emphasizing the Khatami and Rouhani governments. For this purpose, a questionnaire consisting of 20 items, including transparency and corruption control indicators based on the Cochran formula, was distributed randomly among 384 professors and postgraduate students specializing in po-litical science in the universities of Gilan province. The results obtained from the analysis of collected data, using SPSS software and conducting Chi-square and Friedman tests, showed the results of the Chi-square test with a significance level equal to 0.021 and less than 0.05. The impact of transparency and corruption control indicators among the indices of good gov-ernance on the efficiency of Khatami and Rouhani governments is confirmed. Also, consider-ing the extracted average rankings, from a statistical community perspective, the presidency of Seyed Mohammad Khatami in the years (1997-2005) has been more efficient than the presi-dency of Hassan Rouhani (2013-2021) in terms of these two indicators.

The Corruption Perceptions Index, a critical international index based on public opinion sur-veys, reflects the level of corruption in countries. It emphasizes the perceptions and views of experts and elites regarding the extent of bribery and embezzlement among decision-makers and policymakers. Economic corruption poses a significant obstacle to economic growth and development, leading to social ethics issues, increased poverty and injustice, and reduced gov-ernance legitimacy and efficiency. This study, employing a descriptive-analytical method and a deductive approach based on the theoretical framework of good governance, aims to answer the main and subsidiary question: what is the relationship between human development indi-ces and economic corruption in Iran from 2013 to 2021? And what is the correlation between economic corruption and human development indices? The varying levels of economic corrup-tion in Iran during this period have significantly impacted the human development indices in society, and these impacts have evolved. Despite substantial efforts to control economic cor-ruption through modern information technologies, the Corruption Perceptions Index has seen a decline of six ranks during this period. Furthermore, economic corruption and human devel-opment indices typically exhibit an inverse and often negative correlation. This research delves into the relationship between human development indices and societal and economic corruption, providing empirical evidence of their impact and relationship.

Corruption in the public sector, characterized by the misuse of public office for personal gain, has become a complex issue that has garnered significant attention since the 1990s. Recognized as a crucial component of good governance, the detrimental impacts of corruption are particularly evident in public administration, policy, and governance. Corruption not only leads to financial losses but also undermines the principles of good governance, erodes public trust in institutions, and distorts the allocation of public resources. This research aims to comprehensively analyze Iran's initiatives in combating corruption within the realms of public administration, policy, and governance. Over the past two decades, Iran has established numerous anti-corruption institutions and enacted relevant laws. However, similar to many other developing countries, Iran's experience highlights the limited effectiveness of institutionalization in curbing corruption. Reports from Transparency International indicate a simultaneous increase in the number of anti-corruption institutions and the severity of Iran's corruption ranking in recent years. To address this challenge, it is recommended that Iran focus on ensuring transparency and accountability, adhering to the principles of good governance, and empowering civil society. By embracing these measures, Iran can make significant progress in combating corruption and promoting effective public administration.