Quality of Government (QoG) Best Paper Award 2026

The Quality of Government (QoG) Institute at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has announced its Best Paper Award 2026 to recognise outstanding academic research on the quality of government, public administration and impartiality in the exercise of public power.

This annual research award is designed for PhD researchers, postdoctoral scholars and academics holding higher academic ranks. It recognises papers that make significant theoretical and empirical contributions to understanding governance and institutional integrity.

The award welcomes research addressing corruption, clientelism, favouritism, discrimination, patronage, nepotism and the undue influence of special interest groups on public institutions.

Researchers may submit papers using any methodological approach. Eligible work must have been published or presented at an academic international conference between September 2025 and September 2026, in accordance with the organiser's requirements.

Submissions are evaluated by a panel of referees from the QoG Institute. The author or authors of the winning paper receive an opportunity to visit the institute in Gothenburg for one week as guest scholars.

During the visit, award recipients can present their winning paper or related research and engage with the institute's academic environment.

The award covers travel to and from Gothenburg and accommodation during the visit. Other expenses are not explicitly included in the official announcement.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a PhD programme or hold a higher academic rank, such as postdoctoral researcher or above.

• Submit research addressing a Quality of Government-related topic.

• Have a paper published or presented at an academic international conference between September 2025 and September 2026.

• Submit no more than one paper per author.

• Ensure the paper does not exceed 12,000 words, excluding references and appendices.

• Use a standard and consistent citation style throughout the paper.

• Include tables, graphs, images and other relevant visual materials within the body of the paper.

• Submit an anonymised manuscript without author names appearing in the main text.

• Provide a motivation statement of no more than one page explaining why the paper deserves consideration.

• Submit all required documents in PDF format.

The organiser accepts both self-nominations and nominations submitted by other individuals.

Successful award recipients receive:

• One-week academic visit: An opportunity to spend one week at the QoG Institute, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

• Travel expenses: Coverage of travel costs to and from Gothenburg.

• Accommodation: Accommodation expenses in Gothenburg covered during the guest scholar visit.

• Research presentation: An opportunity to present the winning paper or related academic research.

• Academic recognition: Recognition for outstanding theoretical and empirical research in Quality of Government.

• Research engagement: Opportunities to interact with researchers at the QoG Institute during the visit.

Applicants or nominators must prepare the following:

• Research paper: An anonymised PDF manuscript of no more than 12,000 words, excluding references and appendices.

• Motivation statement: A separate PDF document of no more than one page explaining why the paper is being nominated.

The QoG Institute's panel of referees evaluates submissions based on:

• Research relevance: Alignment with Quality of Government-related research topics.

• Theoretical contribution: The paper's contribution to academic understanding of the subject.

• Empirical contribution: The value of the paper's empirical research and findings.

• Overall research quality: Whether the paper demonstrates outstanding research contributions.

• Academic recognition: Gain recognition for research addressing important governance and public administration challenges.

• International exposure: Present academic research at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

• Research development: Engage with an academic institution specialising in Quality of Government research.

• Professional networking: Connect with researchers working on governance, corruption and institutional integrity.

• Career development: Strengthen your academic research profile through international recognition.

• Policy relevance: Contribute to research examining impartiality and the functioning of public institutions.