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Corruption and support for economic reform in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Breen

    (Dublin City University)

  • Robert Gillanders

    (Dublin City University and Hanken School of Economics)

  • Mounir Mahmalat

    (Dublin City University)

Abstract

We explore the relationship between experiences of corruption and support for economic reform in sub-Saharan Africa. We find that the relationship varies across three rounds of the Afrobarometer survey. Examining each round separately, we find that in the first round the local intensity of bribery is correlated with support for reform. In the second round an individual's own experience of bribery matters, while in the third round neither variable is important. Estimating our model on pooled data suggests that an individual's own experience of corruption is associated with less support for reform on average. However, we present evidence that this association is only present in the second round. These findings point to a changing relationship which may reflect rapid development in the region, including economic growth, inward investment, and the diffusion of technology. Our key contribution is to demonstrate that policy recommendations based on an analysis of one round of data or pooled data may be misleading.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Breen & Robert Gillanders & Mounir Mahmalat, 2019. "Corruption and support for economic reform in sub-Saharan Africa," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(2), pages 1195-1201.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-18-00920
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Friedrich Heinemann & Benjamin Tanz, 2008. "The impact of trust on reforms," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 11(3), pages 173-185.
    2. Omar Azfar & Tugrul Gurgur, 2008. "Does corruption affect health outcomes in the Philippines?," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 197-244, July.
    3. Bratton, Michael & Mattes, Robert, 2003. "Support for Economic Reform? Popular Attitudes in Southern Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 303-323, February.
    4. Friedrich Heinemann & Benjamin Tanz, 2008. "The impact of trust on reforms," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 11(3), pages 173-185.
    5. Robert Gillanders, 2014. "Corruption and Infrastructure at the Country and Regional Level," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(6), pages 803-819, June.
    6. Heather Congdon Fors, 2016. "Citizens' support for Economic Reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 84(3), pages 343-363, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corruption; bribery; economic reform; development; public opinion; Africa; Afrobarometer; survey data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior

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