Monitoring Corruptible Politicians

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bobonis, Gustavo J.; Fuertes, Luis R. Camara; Schwabe, Rainer
• 署名单位: University of Toronto; University of Puerto Rico; University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras; Cornerstone Research
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20130874
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 2371-2405
• 关键词: Electoral accountability; field experiment; voter turnout; term limits; ELECTIONS; POLICY; DYNAMICS; outcomes; Uganda; IMPACT

摘要

Does monitoring corrupt activities induce a sustained reduction in corruption? Using longitudinal data on audits of municipal governments in Puerto Rico, we show corruption is considerably lower in municipalities with timely audits-before elections. However, these municipalities do not exhibit decreased levels of corruption in subsequent audits, even while mayors in these benefit from higher reelection rates. Our results suggest that audits enable voters to select responsive but corruptible politicians to office. Audit programs must disseminate results when they are most relevant for voters-shortly before an election-and ensure that these programs are sustained, long-term commitments.