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Decentralization, Corruption And Government Accountability: An Overview

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  • Dilip Mookherjee

    (Department of Economics, Boston University)

  • Pranab Bardhan

Abstract

In summary, the effects of decentralization on corruption and government accountability are complex and cannot be summarized by simple, unconditional statements. This applies equally to theoretical analyses, cross-country regression results and more detailed empirical studies of specific countries. In this essay we reviewed the literature dealing with two principal accountability mechanisms: external competition with other governments, and internal democratic pressures.

Suggested Citation

  • Dilip Mookherjee & Pranab Bardhan, 2005. "Decentralization, Corruption And Government Accountability: An Overview," Boston University - Department of Economics - Working Papers Series WP2005-023, Boston University - Department of Economics, revised Jun 2005.
  • Handle: RePEc:bos:wpaper:wp2005-023
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    Cited by:

    1. Fernando Albornoz & Antonio Cabrales, 2010. "Fiscal Centralization and the Political Process," Working Papers 2010-02, FEDEA.
    2. Nadia Fiorino & Emma Galli & Fabio Padovano, 2015. "How long does it take for government decentralization to affect corruption?," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 273-305, August.
    3. Nadia Fiorino & Emma Galli & Fabio Padovano, 2013. "Do fiscal decentralization and government fragmentation affect corruption in different ways? Evidence from a panel data analysis," Chapters, in: Santiago Lago-Peñas & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez (ed.), The Challenge of Local Government Size, chapter 5, pages 121-147, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Daniel Brou & Michele Ruta, 2013. "Rent-Seeking, Market Structure, and Growth," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 115(3), pages 878-901, July.
    5. Samson Tiki & Belinda Luke & Janet Mack, 2021. "Perceptions of bribery in Papua New Guinea’s public sector: Agency and structural influences," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(4), pages 217-227, October.
    6. Giorgio Brosio & Raju Jan Singh, 2014. "Revenue Sharing of Natural Resources in Africa : Reflections from a Review of International Practices," World Bank Publications - Reports 20062, The World Bank Group.
    7. Divya Datt, 2016. "Inter-governmental political relations in a federation and illegal mining of natural resources," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 18(4), pages 557-576, October.
    8. Lozano, Ignacio & Julio, Juan Manuel, 2016. "Descentralización fiscal y crecimiento económico en Colombia: evidencia de datos de panel a nivel regional," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), August.
    9. Ignacio Lozano-Espitia & Juan Manuel Julio-Román, 2015. "Descentralización Fiscal y Crecimiento Económico: Evidencia Regional en Panel de Datos para Colombia," Borradores de Economia 865, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    10. Cristian Barra & Anna Papaccio & Nazzareno Ruggiero, 2023. "Government effectiveness and inequality in Italian regions," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 781-801, April.
    11. Budi Supriyatno, 2020. "Fiscal Decentralization of the Government of the City of Surabaya Indonesia," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 1-1, December.
    12. Stojcic, Nebojsa & Suman Tolic, Meri, 2018. "Direct and indirect effects of fiscal decentralisation on economic growth," MPRA Paper 108762, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised May 2019.
    13. Machado, Fabiana, 2013. "Decentralization and Accountability: The Curse of Local Underdevelopment," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 4620, Inter-American Development Bank.
    14. María Orduz, 2022. "Effect of educational spending on academic performance under different institutional arrangements," Documentos CEDE 20224, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    15. Paula Salinas & Albert Solé-Ollé, 2009. "Evaluating the effects of decentralization on educational outcomes in Spain," Working Papers 2009/10, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    16. Jaime Bonet-Morón & Gerson Javier Pérez-Valbuena & Jorge Luis Montero-Mestre, 2018. "Las finanzas públicas territoriales en Colombia: dos décadas de cambios," Documentos de trabajo sobre Economía Regional y Urbana 267, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    17. Budi Supriyatno, 2021. "The Effect of Decentralization Policy in Improving Community Welfare Regional Government of Special Yogyakarta - Indonesia," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(1), pages 1-95, February.
    18. Azis Iwan J, 2011. "Endogenous Institution in Decentralization," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, May.
    19. Keith Blackburn & Gareth Downing, 2015. "Deconcentration, Corruption and Economic Growth," Centre for Growth and Business Cycle Research Discussion Paper Series 209, Economics, The University of Manchester.
    20. Kim, Aehyung, 2008. "Decentralization and the provision of public services : framework and implementation," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4503, The World Bank.
    21. Angelino Viceisza, 2007. "An experimental inquiry into the effect of yardstick competition on corruption," Experimental Economics Center Working Paper Series 2007-09, Experimental Economics Center, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    22. Ivar Kolstad & Arne Wiig & Vincent Somville, 2014. "Devolutionary delusions? The effect of decentralization on corruption," CMI Working Papers 10, CMI (Chr. Michelsen Institute), Bergen, Norway.
    23. Ignacio Lozano-Espitia & Juan Manuel Julio-Román, 2016. "Descentralización Fiscal y Crecimiento Económico: Evidencia Regional en Panel de Datos para Colombia," Borradores de Economia 14251, Banco de la Republica.
    24. Shantiko, Bayuni, 2006. "Unfinished business: customary land individualization in olilit village, tanimbar islands," MPRA Paper 918, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    25. Kapoor Mudit & Ravi Shamika, 2012. "Determinants of Corruption: Government Effectiveness vs. Cultural Norms," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, August.

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