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Electoral corruption cycles: Separating perceptions and experiences across households and experts

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  • Crombach, Lamar

Abstract

Existing research established that experts perceive corruption as more severe during democratic elections. This study exploits a novel decomposable corruption index in a panel of 45 democracies between 2004–2020 to assess whether this also holds for household perceptions and experiences. The results show that elections are unrelated to household corruption experiences, challenging the notion of electoral experience corruption cycles. As with experts, household corruption perceptions are affected by elections, yet households perceive less corruption. These findings highlight the need to distinguish between household and expert perceptions as well as between perceptions and experiences.

Suggested Citation

  • Crombach, Lamar, 2026. "Electoral corruption cycles: Separating perceptions and experiences across households and experts," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:92:y:2026:i:c:s0176268025000357
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102675
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    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • K40 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - General

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