Replication data for: Monitoring Corruptible Politicians

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Gustavo J. Bobonis; Luis R. Cámara Fuertes; Rainer Schwabe

Version:  View help for Version V1

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  20130874_data 10/19/2021 03:30:PM
LICENSE.txt text/plain 14.6 KB 10/11/2019 08:54:PM

Project Citation: 

Bobonis, Gustavo J., Cámara Fuertes, Luis R., and Schwabe, Rainer. Replication data for: Monitoring Corruptible Politicians. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2016. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2019-10-12. https://doi.org/10.3886/E112932V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary 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.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms observational data
JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
      H83 Public Administration; Public Sector Accounting and Audits
      K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
      O17 Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage Puerto Rico (USA)
Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 1/1987 – 12/2005
Universe:  View help for Universe Municipal governments audited by Office of Comptroller of Puerto Rico during period 1987-2005
Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) administrative records data; census/enumeration data; observational data

Methodology

Unit(s) of Observation:  View help for Unit(s) of Observation municipality and audit period,

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Published Versions

V1 [2019-10-12]

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