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Starving and deceiving: Are politicians with childhood famine exposure more honest?

Author

Listed:
  • Shuo Chen

    (Fudan University)

  • Xinyu Fan

    (Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business)

  • Xuanyi Wang

    (Fudan University)

Abstract

Dishonest politicians can jeopardize economic development. How do disasters change politicians’ incentives to lie? We employ a difference-in-differences approach to show that public officials who were exposed to China’s 1959–1961 famine as children (aged 0–6 years) are less likely to manipulate local GDP calculations; the reduction is more significant for officials who were more severely impacted by the disaster. We further reveal that famine-exposed local politicians take stronger moral stances on honesty, and are thus more reluctant to lie. The paper highlights how fraudulent policymaking in the past alters society’s long-term welfare through changing future government officials’ behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuo Chen & Xinyu Fan & Xuanyi Wang, 2025. "Starving and deceiving: Are politicians with childhood famine exposure more honest?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 204(3), pages 287-306, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:204:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11127-024-01249-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-024-01249-y
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    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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