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The dynamics of political corruption: Re-examining the influence of democracy

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2005

Year

Abstract

With the emergence of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), several recent studies have conducted cross-national, empirical analyses of the determinants of political corruption as measured by the CPI. These studies find stable support for the importance of economic factors (such as national wealth and trade) while the role of political factors has been limited. This article develops some conceptual and methodological modifications to the study of democracy's influence on the probability of corruption. These changes demonstrate that the consolidation of a vital democracy maintained over time exercises a more powerful influence over corruption than past research had indicated.