Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/83736 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
Working Papers No. 2012-14
Publisher: 
Banco de México, Ciudad de México
Abstract: 
Does the disclosure of information about corrupt activities induce a sustained reduction in corruption? We use longitudinal data on audits of municipal governments in Puerto Rico to answer this question. We find that corruption is lower in municipalities audited before an election. However, these municipalities do not exhibit decreased levels of corruption in subsequent audits. Mayors in municipalities audited preceding the previous election have higher re-election rates, suggesting that audits enable voters to select more competent politicians. We present a political agency model that rationalizes the observed short-term and dynamic effects of information on corruption and re-election rates. We conclude that audit programs must be timely, sustained, and long-term commitments in order to be effective.
Subjects: 
corruption
information
political agency
JEL: 
D72
H41
K42
O17
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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