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Working or Shirking?A Closer Look at MPs’ Expenses and Parliamentary Attendance

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  • Timothy Besley
  • Valentino Larcinese

Abstract

This paper studies determinants of MPs expense claims in Parliament using the datareleased under the freedom of information act in 2004. Using a multiple regressionframework, we correlate expenses with three sets of variables: constituencycharacteristics, party affiliation and individual characteristics. We also look at the ratio ofparliamentary expenses claimed to votes cast in parliament as a crude measure of valuefor money. We use the results to reflect on two views of the motivation of MPs, thepublic Choice view and the public service view.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy Besley & Valentino Larcinese, 2005. "Working or Shirking?A Closer Look at MPs’ Expenses and Parliamentary Attendance," STICERD - Political Economy and Public Policy Paper Series 15, Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:stipep:15
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    1. Cain, Bruce E. & Ferejohn, John A. & Fiorina, Morris P., 1984. "The Constituency Service Basis of the Personal Vote for U.S. Representatives and British Members of Parliament," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 78(1), pages 110-125, March.
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    4. Lott, John R, Jr & Bronars, Stephen G, 1993. "Time Series Evidence on Shirking in the U.S. House of Representatives," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 76(1-2), pages 125-149, June.
    5. John Lott, 1987. "Political cheating," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 52(2), pages 169-186, January.
    6. McArthur, John & Marks, Stephen V, 1988. "Constitutent Interest vs. Legislator Ideology: The Role of Political Opportunity Cost," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 26(3), pages 461-470, July.
    7. Solt, Frederick, 2004. "Civics or Structure? Revisiting the Origins of Democratic Quality in the Italian Regions," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 34(1), pages 123-135, January.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook

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