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The Impact of Fiscal Transparency on Corruption: An Empirical Analysis Based on Longitudinal Data

Author

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  • De Simone Elina

    (Department of Business and Economic Studies, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy)

  • Gaeta Giuseppe Lucio

    (Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples L’Orientale, Naples, Italy)

  • Mourão Paulo Reis

    (Department of Economics & NIPE, Economics & Management School, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal)

Abstract

Fiscal transparency is considered an essential feature of public financial management and is supposed to provide beneficial governance effects such as reducing corruption. This paper adds to recent empirical literature that specifically investigates the impact of fiscal information disclosure on corruption. Country-level evidence provided by previous studies is exclusively based on cross-sectional econometric analyses, while the present contribution relies on a wide-ranging, country-level dataset of 116 countries that cover a ten-year time span (2003–2012), and on dynamic panel data estimates. These innovations in terms of data and methods provide new, robust empirical support to the claim that fiscal transparency is negatively correlated with corruption.

Suggested Citation

  • De Simone Elina & Gaeta Giuseppe Lucio & Mourão Paulo Reis, 2017. "The Impact of Fiscal Transparency on Corruption: An Empirical Analysis Based on Longitudinal Data," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:17:y:2017:i:4:p:17:n:10
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2017-0021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Whitley, Edgar A. & Martinez, Tatiana, 2023. "Open data as an anticorruption tool? Using distributed cognition to understand breakdowns in the creation of transparency data," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118578, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Cicatiello, Lorenzo & De Simone, Elina & Ercolano, Salvatore & Gaeta, Giuseppe Lucio, 2021. "Assessing the impact of fiscal transparency on FDI inflows," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    3. Federica Cacciatore & Fabrizio Mascio & Alessandro Natalini, 2022. "Do Economic Recovery Packages Open a Window of Opportunity for Corruption and Mismanagement? The Case of Italy in the Aftermath of the Covid-19 Pandemic," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 527-544, September.
    4. Federico Ceschel & Alessandro Hinna & Fabian Homberg, 2022. "Public Sector Strategies in Curbing Corruption: A Review of the Literature," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 571-591, September.
    5. Bruno Blanco-Varela & María Quintas-Pérez & María Carmen Sánchez-Carreira & Paulo Jorge Reis Mourão, 2022. "Covid and Public Funds: More Opportunities for a Misuse? The Case of the Intermediate Governments of Galicia," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 505-526, September.
    6. Capasso, Salvatore & Cicatiello, Lorenzo & De Simone, Elina & Gaeta, Giuseppe Lucio & Mourão, Paulo Reis, 2021. "Fiscal transparency and tax ethics: does better information lead to greater compliance?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 1031-1050.
    7. Ali Farazmand & Elina Simone & Salvatore Capasso & Giuseppe Lucio Gaeta, 2021. "Articles for a Special Issue of Public Organization Review (POR) on Corruption, Lack of Transparency and the Misuse of Public Funds in Times of Crisis," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 183-186, June.
    8. Salvatore Capasso & Lorenzo Cicatiello & Elina De Simone & Lodovico Santoro, 2022. "Corruption and tax revenues: Evidence from Italian regions," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(4), pages 1129-1152, December.
    9. Md. Atiqur Rahman & Md. Shuvo Howlader, 2025. "The impact of accounting environment, firm and loan attributes on non-performing loan ratios of countries: the moderating role of good governance," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 219-243, March.
    10. Ali Farazmand & Elina Simone & Giuseppe Lucio Gaeta & Salvatore Capasso, 2022. "Corruption, lack of Transparency and the Misuse of Public Funds in Times of Crisis: An introduction," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 497-503, September.
    11. Dingzu Zhang & Xingjie Shen & Cong Peng, 2022. "National Audit, Media Attention, and Efficiency of Local Fiscal Expenditure: A Spatial Econometric Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-24, December.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact

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