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Is transparency spatially determined? An empirical test for the Italian Municipalities

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Galli

    (Department of Social and Economic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome (IT).)

  • Ilde Rizzo

    (Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania (IT).)

  • Carla Scaglioni

    (DiGiES, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria (IT).)

Abstract

In this paper, we aim at assessing whether transparency is spatially determined at local level. To this end we use a new composite indicator (CTI) built by Galli et al. (2017) for a large sample of Italian Municipalities and control for several factors (socio-economic, fiscal and politico-institutional), which according to the literature affect transparency. Our preliminary results suggest that there is a statistically significant transparency clustering across the Italian municipalities, which follows a dichotomic pattern, i.e. either very low or very high. The empirical analysis shows that spatial dependence matters and similarities in transparency behaviour mainly occur among small Municipalities where citizens’ political participation is likely to be greater and the single ballot electoral system strengthens the incentives for government accountability.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Galli & Ilde Rizzo & Carla Scaglioni, 2018. "Is transparency spatially determined? An empirical test for the Italian Municipalities," Working Papers 6/18, Sapienza University of Rome, DISS.
    • Handle: RePEc:saq:wpaper:6/18
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    Cited by:

    1. Giuseppe Albanese & Emma Galli & Ilde Rizzo & Carla Scaglioni, 2021. "Transparency, civic capital and political accountability: A virtuous relation?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(2), pages 155-169, May.
    2. Paulo Reis Mourao & Mihaela Bronić & Branko Stanić, 2020. "Discussing the determinants of online budget transparency based on a spatial regression analysis of Croatian cities and municipalities: Do good neighbours make you better?," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 23(3), pages 268-287, September.
    3. Cicatiello, Lorenzo & De Simone, Elina & Mascio, Fabrizio Di & Gaeta, Giuseppe Lucio & Natalini, Alessandro & Worthy, Ben, 2024. "Response, awareness and requester identity in FOI law: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 12-30.
    4. Alaimo, Leonardo Salvatore & Galli, Emma & Rizzo, Ilde & Scaglioni, Carla, 2023. "A new index of transparency: Evidence for the Italian municipalities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    5. Giuseppe Albanese & Emma Galli & Ilde Rizzo & Carla Scaglioni, 2019. "Building the Glass House: Transparency and Civic Capital across Italian municipalities," Working papers 84, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transparency; local governments; spatial dimension; determinants.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K2 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law
    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior
    • H3 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations

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