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Is transparency spatially determined? An empirical test for Italian municipalities

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  • Emma Galli
  • Ilde Rizzo
  • Carla Scaglioni

Abstract

In this article, we aim to assess whether transparency is characterized by a spatial dimension. To this end, we use a new composite indicator (CTI) for a large sample of Italian municipalities and control for several factors (socio-economic, fiscal, and politico-institutional), which, according to the literature, affect transparency. Our results suggest that there is a statistically significant transparency clustering across the Italian municipalities which follows a dichotomic pattern, i.e. either very low or very high. Moreover, the empirical analysis shows that spatial dependence matters and ‘transparency mimicking’ takes place among neighbouring municipalities. This behaviour mainly occurs among small municipalities where citizens’ political participation is likely to be greater and the single-ballot electoral system strengthens the incentives for government accountability.

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  • Emma Galli & Ilde Rizzo & Carla Scaglioni, 2020. "Is transparency spatially determined? An empirical test for Italian municipalities," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(58), pages 6372-6385, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:52:y:2020:i:58:p:6372-6385
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2020.1795068
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    Cited by:

    1. Giuseppe Albanese & Emma Galli & Ilde Rizzo & Carla Scaglioni, 2021. "Transparency, civic capital and political accountability: A virtuous relation?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(2), pages 155-169, May.
    2. Paulo Reis Mourao & Mihaela Bronić & Branko Stanić, 2020. "Discussing the determinants of online budget transparency based on a spatial regression analysis of Croatian cities and municipalities: Do good neighbours make you better?," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 23(3), pages 268-287, September.
    3. Alaimo, Leonardo Salvatore & Galli, Emma & Rizzo, Ilde & Scaglioni, Carla, 2023. "A new index of transparency: Evidence for the Italian municipalities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Giuseppe Albanese & Emma Galli & Ilde Rizzo & Carla Scaglioni, 2019. "Building the Glass House: Transparency and Civic Capital across Italian municipalities," Working papers 84, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.
    5. Cicatiello, Lorenzo & De Simone, Elina & Mascio, Fabrizio Di & Gaeta, Giuseppe Lucio & Natalini, Alessandro & Worthy, Ben, 2024. "Response, awareness and requester identity in FOI law: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 12-30.

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    • K2 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law
    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior
    • H3 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations

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