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Corruption and the military in politics: theory and evidence from around the world

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  • Muhammad Tariq Majeed
  • Ronald MacDonald

Abstract

Recent theoretical developments and case study evidence suggests a relationship between the military in politics and corruption. This study contributes to this literature by analyzing theoretically and empirically the role of the military in politics and corruption for the first time. By drawing on a cross sectional and panel data set covering a large number of countries, over the period 1984-2007, and using a variety of econometric methods substantial empirical support is found for a positive relationship between the military in politics and corruption. In sum, our results reveal that a one standard deviation increase in the military in politics leads to a 0.22 unit increase in corruption index. This relationship is shown to be robust to a variety of specification changes, different econometric techniques, different sample sizes, alternative corruption indices and the exclusion of outliers. This study suggests that the explanatory power of the military in politics is at least as important as the conventionally accepted causes of corruption, such as economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Tariq Majeed & Ronald MacDonald, 2010. "Corruption and the military in politics: theory and evidence from around the world," Working Papers 2010_34, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    • Handle: RePEc:gla:glaewp:2010_34
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    Cited by:

    1. David Shin, 2020. "The Military in Politics and Democracy: Its Impact on Government Spending for Education and Health," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(5), pages 1810-1826, September.
    2. Muhammad Tariq Majeed & Ronald MacDonald, 2011. "Corruption and financial intermediation in a panel of regions: cross-border effects of corruption," Working Papers 2011_18, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    3. Majeed, Dr. Muhammad Tariq, 2013. "Inequality, Trade and Development: Evidence from Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 50337, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. M. Ajide, Folorunsho & A. Olayiwola, John, 2020. "Remittances and corruption in Nigeria," Working Papers 2632, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin.
    5. Muhammad Tariq MAJEED*, 2016. "MIGRANT REMITTANCES AND CORRUPTION: An Empirical Analysis," Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics, Applied Economics Research Centre, vol. 26(1), pages 15-41.
    6. Bove, Vincenzo & Nisticò, Roberto, 2014. "Military in politics and budgetary allocations," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 1065-1078.
    7. Majeed, Dr. Muhammad Tariq, 2013. "Inequality, Financial Development and Government: Evidence from Low-Income Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 50296, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corruption; military in politics; cross sectional; panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government

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