Corruption, Decentralization and Yardstick Competition
Christopher Ellis (),
Oguzhan Dincer and
Glen Waddell ()
Additional contact information Christopher Ellis: University of Oregon
Oguzhan Dincer: Massey University
Abstract:
Several empirical studies have found a negative relationship between corruption and the decentralization of the powers to tax and spend. In this paper we explain this phenomenon using a model of Yardstick Competition. Using data on federal corruption-related convictions in U.S. states we propose and test a spatial autoregressive model of corruption, providing new evidence in support of the theoretical findings.