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Primary healthcare effects of a well-designed anti-corruption program

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  • Nishijima, Marislei
  • Ellis, Randall P.
  • Cati, Regina C.

Abstract

We evaluate the success of Brazil’s Corregedoria-Geral da União’s (CGU) anti-corruption program in fostering better outcomes in the health sector using panel data from 5560 Brazilian municipalities over the period from 2000 to 2011. Since 2003, the program randomly selected municipalities to investigate each year and immediately disclosed its findings. We test for deterrent or auditing effects on four primary health care indicators. Our results let us reject that there was any meaningful effect of the anti-corruption program on these health outcomes and corroborate the general view that the legal system is slow to identify, prosecute, and punish criminal activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Nishijima, Marislei & Ellis, Randall P. & Cati, Regina C., 2022. "Primary healthcare effects of a well-designed anti-corruption program," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wodepe:v:25:y:2022:i:c:s2452292922000078
    DOI: 10.1016/j.wdp.2022.100399
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Anti-corruption program; Primary health; Audits; Randomization; Brazil;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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