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Do Local Elections in Non-Democracies Increase Accountability? Evidence from Rural China

Author

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  • Qian, Nancy
  • Padró i Miquel, Gerard
  • Martinez-Bravo, Monica
  • Yao, Yang

Abstract

We use unique survey data to study whether the introduction of local elections in China made local leaders more accountable towards local constituents. We develop a simple model to predict the effects on different policies of increasing local leader accountability, taking into account that there is an autocratic upper government. We exploit variation in the timing of the top-down introduction of elections across villages to estimate the causal effects of elections and find that elections affected policy outcomes in a way that is consistent with the predicted effects of increased local leader accountability.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian, Nancy & Padró i Miquel, Gerard & Martinez-Bravo, Monica & Yao, Yang, 2011. "Do Local Elections in Non-Democracies Increase Accountability? Evidence from Rural China," CEPR Discussion Papers 8368, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:8368
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Accountability; Democracy; Institutions; Public goods;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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