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52. Compliance shocks under low bureaucratic capacity
- Author:
- Daniel Tanis
- Publication Date:
- 03-2018
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Nottingham Interdisciplinary Centre for Economic and Political Research (NICEP)
- Abstract:
- There is a general consensus on the negative eects of corruption on state capacity and welfare, but there is little understanding of how anti-corruption initiatives aect other areas of policy making. This paper frames anti-corruption policies as a delegation problem and examines the eects of enforcement shocks on bureaucratic action. As politicians increase the oversight of the bureaucracy to ensure that their actions are more compliant, bureaucrats react to a higher risk of punishment and choose safer actions. This model shows, however, that under low policy capacity an increase in oversight may in fact distance the bureaucratic action from the political preferences if punishment is highly asymmetrical. I test this hypothesis using data from the Brazilian random audit programme and detailed records of municipal spending during 2006-2012. I show that being audited substantially increases the chances that bureaucrats will face legal sanctions for the policies they attempt to deliver, but there are no corresponding sanctions for under-delivery. As a result, I nd that a random audit increases the gap between the budget planned by politicians at the beginning of the year and the resources actually spent by bureaucrats. This is a sizable eect where bureaucrats spend 1.5-2% less of the average municipal budget and 10-15% less of the discretionary expenses. This eect is disconnected from the political cycle and the reported corruption risk. The results suggest important insights for the design of anti-corruption policies: if the size and threat of punishment is large enough, not delivering policies may be a safer strategy than risking non-compliance. Hence, combining an increase in the risk of punishment with higher incentives for policy delivery could mitigate the potential side eects of audit-based anti-corruption programmes.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Political Economy, Bureaucracy, and Compliance
- Political Geography:
- Brazil and Global Focus
53. Explaining Variation in Public Debt: A Quantitative Analysis of the Effects of Governance
- Author:
- Andreas Eisl
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Max Planck Sciences Po Center on Coping with Instability in Market Societies (MaxPo)
- Abstract:
- This paper examines the main political influence factors accounting for the variation in public debt accumulation on a global scale. This allows for a reassessment of the recent focus on a regime type theory of public debt and for a test of an alternative governance theory. I argue that political stability, the rule of law, the control of corruption, government effectiveness, and regulatory quality promote lower public debt accumulation by reducing the incentives for governments to “borrow from the future,” by increasing state capacity to collect taxes and effectively use public funds, and by providing more security and equity to private investment, inducing higher economic growth and tax revenues. Both theories are tested against a number of controls stemming from theories of public choice, theories of governmental distributional conflict, as well as from politico-institutional and macroeconomic explanations of public debt accumulation. Applying different specifications of quantitative models, the two governance indicators political stability and regulatory quality show consistent effects on public debt accumulation, partly confirming the proposed governance theory. Furthermore, the paper can reproduce a public debt-reducing effect of more democratic regime types across a number of model specifications – though without a high degree of robustness.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Economics, International Political Economy, Regulation, Rule of Law, Macroeconomics, and Public Debt
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
54. Key Issues and Policy Recommendations Compilation
- Author:
- Philipp H. Fluri, Oleksiy Melnyk, and Nazli Yildirim Schierkolk
- Publication Date:
- 11-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Razumkov Centre
- Abstract:
- This publication provides an overview of the key issues discussed and policy recommenda- tions proposed during the series of conferences for the project “Monitoring Ukraine’s Security Governance Challenges”. The project was implemented jointly by DCAF and the Razumkov Centre with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. This report compiles key issues and recommendations for all 9 conference and is intended to serve as a reference point for future needs assessments, as well as for further consultations with Ukrainian and international stakeholders. The key issues are categorised thematically, rather than by conference, since certain issues were discussed in several events. Each sub-section concludes with respective policy recommendations.
- Topic:
- Security, Civil Society, Corruption, International Organization, Governance, Democracy, Media, Legislation, and Institutions
- Political Geography:
- Geneva, Ukraine, Switzerland, and Global Focus
55. Key Issues and Policy Recommendations, Conference 7
- Author:
- Philipp H. Fluri, Oleksiy Melnyk, and Nazli Yildirim
- Publication Date:
- 03-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Razumkov Centre
- Abstract:
- This publication offers the Key Issues and Policy Recommendations based on the results of the Seventh International Conference “Ukraine’s Civilian Security Sector: Reforms’ Progress and Challenges”. Conference Seven, following to the previous conferences recommendations, provided a platform to discuss the status of reforms in the civilian security sector with a view to identifying key barriers and challenges; and discuss the role of criminal justice institutions in tackling corruption in the civilian security sector.
- Topic:
- Security, Corruption, Government, Judiciary, and Oversight
- Political Geography:
- Ukraine and Global Focus
56. Conference Proceedings 6: Defence Production, Sales and Acquisitions
- Author:
- Philipp H. Fluri, Oleksiy Melnyk, and Nazli Yildirim
- Publication Date:
- 02-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Razumkov Centre
- Abstract:
- This publication offers the proceedings of Conference 6 on Security Sector Governance in Ukraine. The conference focused on defence production, sales and acquisitions. The objective of the event was to identify current reform priorities and challenges in the area of defence production, sale and procurement; to detect weaknesses in oversight structures and to put forward relevant solutions; to review relevant lessons learned and best practices; and to identify capacity development needs.
- Topic:
- Security, Defense Policy, Corruption, Governance, Institutions, and Procurement
- Political Geography:
- Ukraine and Global Focus
57. How Anonymous Shell Companies Finance Insurgents, Criminals, and Dictators
- Author:
- Jodi Vittori
- Publication Date:
- 09-2017
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Council on Foreign Relations
- Abstract:
- The Panama Papers leak of eleven million documents in April 2016 revealed that former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, the brother-in-law of Chinese President Xi Jinping, longtime friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin, drug kingpins, and even a soccer megastar had something in common: they all channeled money through anonymous shell companies. Anonymous shell companies are entities that usually employ few or no workers, do not conduct any substantive business, and allow their owners to store or route money while hiding their identities. Because of the secrecy they can provide, anonymous companies represent an important nexus of corruption, money laundering, transnational organized crime, and terrorism, which directly harm U.S. interests. As one of the main facilitators of anonymous companies, the United States should pass legislation to disclose ownership information for all companies, increase federal contract transparency, and boost other business and government transparency mechanisms at home and abroad. Doing so would significantly cut back on the ability of terrorists, criminals, and their ilk to use American corporations, real estate, and trusts to finance activities that harm the United States and its foreign interests.
- Topic:
- Corruption, International Trade and Finance, Transparency, and Panama Papers
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
58. The Hellish Road to Good Intentions How to Break Political-Criminal Alliances in Contexts of Transition
- Author:
- Vanda Felbab-Brown
- Publication Date:
- 04-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- The Brookings Institution
- Abstract:
- Large-scale illicit economies and organized crime have received increasing attention from governments and international organizations since the end of the Cold War. The end of the Cold War brought a permissive strategic environment that allowed many states to focus on a broader menu of interests in their foreign policy agendas, such as the fight against drug trafficking and production. The post-Cold War era also exposed the fragility and institutional underdevelopment of many of these states, a deficiency perhaps exacerbated by globalization. At the same time, criminal and belligerent actors with significant power previously obscured by the shadows of Cold War politics were spotlighted by the international community, especially when their activities were associated with intense violence or corruption.
- Topic:
- Corruption and Political Theory
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
59. Fighting Corruption: A Manifesto for a more secure,prosperous and resilient UK.
- Author:
- Transparency International
- Publication Date:
- 05-2017
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Transparency International
- Abstract:
- This manifesto contains 39 recommendations to address corruption in our country and the UK’s role in facilitating corruption globally. These five priority actions, building on past government announcements, deserve cross-party support, and could be introduced swiftly.
- Topic:
- Corruption and International Security
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
60. Business Principles for Promoting Integrity in the Pharmaceutical Sector
- Author:
- Transparency International
- Publication Date:
- 05-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Transparency International
- Abstract:
- The aim of the Pharma Integrity Principles for Latin America is to provide a framework for good business practices and risk management strategies for promoting integrity in the pharmaceutical sector. They are intended to assist companies and industry associations across the region in: • eliminating bribery and related conflicts of interest; • demonstrating their commitment to doing business with integrity; and • making a positive contribution to improving business standards of integrity, transparency and accountability. The Pharma Integrity Principles combine anti-bribery principles of general applicability developed by Transparency International with more specific guidelines for preventing conflicts of interest in the pharmaceutical sector in relation to prescribing practices by healthcare professionals and interactions with healthcare institutions, patients and patient organisations.
- Topic:
- Corruption and International Political Economy
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus