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Looking Beyond the Incumbent: The Effects of Exposing Corruption on Electoral Outcomes

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  • Chong, Alberto E.
  • De La O, Ana
  • Karlan, Dean S.
  • Wantchekon, Leonard

Abstract

Does information about rampant political corruption increase electoral participation and the support for challenger parties? Democratic theory assumes that offering more information to voters will enhance electoral accountability. However, if there is consistent evidence suggesting that voters punish corrupt incumbents, it is unclear whether this translates into increased support for challengers and higher political participation. We provide experimental evidence that information about copious corruption not only decreases incumbent support in local elections in Mexico, but also decreases voter turnout, challengers' votes, and erodes voters' identifcation with the party of the corrupt incumbent. Our results suggest that while flows of information are necessary, they may be insufficient to improve political accountability, since voters may respond to information by withdrawing from the political process. We conclude with a discussion of the institutional contexts that could allow increased access to information to promote government accountability.

Suggested Citation

  • Chong, Alberto E. & De La O, Ana & Karlan, Dean S. & Wantchekon, Leonard, 2012. "Looking Beyond the Incumbent: The Effects of Exposing Corruption on Electoral Outcomes," Center Discussion Papers 121640, Yale University, Economic Growth Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:yaleeg:121640
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.121640
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Institutional and Behavioral Economics; Political Economy; Public Economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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