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More politicians, more corruption: evidence from Swedish municipalities

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Bergh

    (Lund University
    Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

  • Günther Fink

    (Harvard School of Public Health)

  • Richard Öhrvall

    (Linköping University
    Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

Abstract

In the literature on political economy and public choice, it is typically assumed that government size correlates positively with public corruption. The empirical literature, however, is inconclusive, owing to both measurement problems and endogeneity. This paper creates a corruption index based on original data from a survey covering top politicians and civil servants in all Swedish municipalities. The effect of more politicians on corruption problems is analyzed using discontinuities in the required minimum size of local councils. Despite the fact that Sweden consistently has been ranked among the least corrupt countries in the world, the survey suggest that non-trivial corruption problems are present in Sweden. Municipalities with more local council seats have more reported corruption problems, and the regression discontinuity design suggests that the effect is causal.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Bergh & Günther Fink & Richard Öhrvall, 2017. "More politicians, more corruption: evidence from Swedish municipalities," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 172(3), pages 483-500, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:172:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11127-017-0458-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-017-0458-4
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    4. De Santo, Alessia & Le Maux, Benoît, 2023. "On the optimal size of legislatures: An illustrated literature review," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Jun Wen & Lingxiao Li & Xinxin Zhao & Chenyang Jiao & Wenjie Li, 2022. "How Government Size Expansion Can Affect Green Innovation—An Empirical Analysis of Data on Cross-Country Green Patent Filings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Emanuel Wittberg & Mihály Fazekas, 2023. "Firm performance, imperfect competition, and corruption risks in procurement: evidence from Swedish municipalities," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 197(1), pages 227-251, October.

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