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

41 Pages Posted: 23 Feb 2012

See all articles by Alberto Chong

Alberto Chong

University of Ottawa

Ana L. De La O

Yale University

Dean S. Karlan

Yale University; Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management; Innovations for Poverty Action; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Leonard Wantchekon

Princeton University

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 27, 2012

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' identification 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.

Keywords: Corruption, Accountability, Elections, Voting, Information

JEL Classification: D72, D73, D82, D83

Suggested Citation

Chong, Alberto and De La O Torres, Ana L. and Karlan, Dean S. and Karlan, Dean S. and Wantchekon, Leonard, Looking Beyond the Incumbent: The Effects of Exposing Corruption on Electoral Outcomes (January 27, 2012). Yale Economics Department Working Paper No. 94, Yale University Economic Growth Center Discussion Paper No. 1005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1993197

Alberto Chong (Contact Author)

University of Ottawa ( email )

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Ana L. De La O Torres

Yale University ( email )

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Dean S. Karlan

Yale University ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

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Leonard Wantchekon

Princeton University ( email )

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